Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21
Arrival of the Colon iau Troops

Under date of November Commander
Hubbard reverts to events prior to this re-
port, and tells Of the discovery on the morn
ing of November 3 of the arrival during
the previous night of the Colombian gum
boat Cartagena with between 400 and 800
troops. 1nasmuch as the Independent party
had not acted and the government of Co
lombla was at the time in undisputed control
or the province OF Panama, the comma nder
says he did not feel justified in preventing
the landing of these troops Their COM
mandng officers, Generals Amaya and To-
pal, went to Panama. leaving Colonel Torres
In command. Late in the afternoon of No
vember B. on learning that the troops would
leave for Panama the following day Com
mander Hubbard went ashore and SAYS he
lea OF the establishment of the provis-
ional government at Panama, that Cen
erals Amaya and Tobal and four others
who had accompanied them from Colon
were held as prisoners and that they had
an organized force of 800 troops and wish
ed the government troops in Colon to be
sent over This, Commander Hubbard
says he declined to permit, and early on
the morning of November notified the
railroad officials the project of Colon and
Colonel Torres that he had prohibited the
Transportation of troops in either direc-
ton In order to preserve the free and unin-
terrupted transit of the isthmus. The
threat of Colonel Torres, reported in his
letter of November 5, he says he learns was
made as Colonel Torres response to prop
oStion of the new. government at Colon
that Torres return to the port of Cartagena
Commander Hubbard then says that
learning on the morning of November 5
that Colonel Torres had not withdrawn as
far from the town he had agreed and
that it was his intention to again occupy
Colon unless General Tobal sent word that
he should withdraw, he, Commander Hub
bard, again landed an armed force and two
one-pounders and then had an interview
with Colonel Torres in which he informed
that officer that he had done this
Torres had not kept his agreement Com
mander Hubbard says he informed Colonel
Torres that Il had no interest in the af-
fairs of either part; that my attitude was
strictly neutral; that the troops of neither
side should be transported; that my sole
purpose in landing was to protect the lives
and property of American citizens if threat
ened as they had been threatened, and to
maintain the free and uninterrupted transit
Of the isthmus; and that that purpose l
should maintain by force if necessary. l
also strongly advised that in the interests Of
peace, and to prevent the possibility of
conflict that could not but be regrettable,
he should carry his agreement of the pre-
vious evening and withdraw to Monkey HILL
Colonel Torres only reply was that it was
unhealthy at Monkey Hill, a reiteration of
his love of Americans, and persistence in
his intention to occupy Colon. should Gen
eral Tobal not give him directions to the
contrary. On the return of the alcalde at
about II a. m. the Colombian troops march
ed into Colon, but did not assume the
threatening demeanor of the previous day.
The Troops Depart.
During the afternoon several propositions
were made to Col. Torres by the represent
tatives Of the new government, and he was
finally persuaded by them to embark on the
Royal Mail steamer Orinoco, with all his
troops. and return to Cartagena.
The Cartagena. left Colon just after the
threat made by Col. Torres to open fire on
the town and kill every United States citi-
zen, and Commander Hubbard says he did
not deem 1t expedient to attempt to detain
her, as such action in the then state of af-
fairs certainly would have precipitated a
conflict on shore, which he was not pre-
pared to meet.
In concluding his report Commander Hub
bard incloses letter. dated November @
from Commander Diehl of the Boston at
Panama. who repeats the substance of an
interview he had the previous day with the
British vice consul, Mr.. Rhodes. and the
agent of the p. S. N. Company, Mr.. PEBBLES.
regarding the British ships Maravi and
Quito. then at Buena Ventura. The British