Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-04
Assembling a Naval Force.

United States had acted directly contrary
to the wishes and the interests of the peo-
pie of Panama.
Assembling a Naval Force.
1t was in consequence of these and SINH
lar advces that the administration made
it's arrangements to have a strong military
force on hand when the climax was reach
ed. Although there is but one United
States warship actually at the seat of trou.
BILE at the present time there will be sew
eral more on hand within a few days. and
in case of necessity large fleets or war
ships can readily be assembled at snort
notice at both the Atlantic and Pacific
ends of the Panama railroad
The gunboat Nashville, eight guns. Com
mander John Hubbard commanding, Is al
ready at Colon, and is understood to have
landed detachment of marines and blue
Jackets for the protection of American In
terests and the freedom of traffic. She will
shortly be reinforced at that port by the
training ship Dixie, Commander F. III.
400 marines on board. and by the protected
'ruiser Atlanta, eight guns, Commander
William H. Turner. commanding.
The Dixie. while at the navy yard, League
Island, was hurriedly dispatched to Guam
tanamo, where. 1t was said at the Navy
Department, the marines were to be landed
when the United States government took
possession of that naval station. When the
said that the Dixie. which in the meantime
had proceeded from Guantanamo to Kings
ton, Jamaica. would be sent to Puerto
Plata, San Domingo. 1t developed. how
ever. that the Dixie was sent to Kings ton
for COAL and that she left there yesterday
for Colon. 1t is stated at the Navy De-
partment that she departed from the En-
glish port before the outbreak at Panama,
which did not occur until early evening,
but 1t was admitted by the officials that
they knew that something was about to
happen on the isthmus.'
The cruiser Baltimore, ten guns. Com
mander j. B. Briggs, commanding, left
Hampton Roads several days ago for Pucr-
to Plata, San Domingo and it Is expected
to arrive there today or tomorrow. In case
of necessity she will be added to the fleet
at the Atlantic end Of the railway.
On the Pacific Side.
Similar activity was shown with respect
to the warships on the Pacific station Rear
Admiral Glass, commanding the Pacific
squadron. has with him at Acapulco, Mex
ico the cruiser Marblehead. ten guns, Com
mander T. S. Phelps, commanding; the
monitor Wyoming. six guns. Commander ".
L. Cottman, commanding. and the gunboat
Concord. six guns, Commander c. P. Per-
kins, commanding. These vessels Will be
held in reserve for service at Panama.
The cruiser Boston, eight guns. Lieut..
Commander Chas. Laird, commanding
which was last reported at San Juan del
Sur. was yesterday ordered to proceed with
out delay to Panama and Is expected to ar
rive there in day or two.
Location Of Ships.
Acting Secretary Darling made a state
ment regarding the location of United
States ships likely to be called upon for
| isthmian service. He said:.
THE Atlanta is now at Jamaica. the
Dixie is supposed to be in the vicinity OF
Jamaica. the Nashville is at Colon, Admiral
Glass squadron. comprising the Marble
head. Wyoming and Concord. is at AGA
the coast at San Juan del Sur. Nicaragua.
The movements of these vessels will be d.
rected by the Navy Department pursuant
to requests from the State Department"
Marines Available.
There are at the stations named on the
Atlantic coast, approximately. the follow
| ing numbers of marines: Norfolk. 200;
League Island. 800; New York, 800: Wash
ington. 800; Boston. 200; Portsmouth, N H.,
| 100; Annapolis. 250. In a case OF emergency
| 800 more of these could be spared for
| service on the is,nmus. and should great
err emergency arise. of course, arrangements
would be made SO that practically the en-
J tire force could be available for duty in
Panama. Ordinarily the attachments at
| the various yards are regarded as sufficient
| only for the service required of the corps
| at the yards. At Port Royal and Charles
| ton only small detachments are stationed,
| just sufficient to meet the needs of those
| two stations On the Pacific coast the ma
rine force has been reduced to a small
number.
Question Of Recognition.
| The persons who have engineered the
revolution have 50 far succeeded in con-
! cealing the exact measure of their powers
| and responsibilities, but last evening some
| cabled inquiries came from men who stand
| very high In the business world Of Panama,
| asking If the United States government
| would extend recognition to the new state
L. the present movement was successful.
| The inquiries did not come in such form
| as to justify an official answer, and 1t is
| said that 1t is not the policy Of the United
| States government to commit itself in such
| cases. The invariable rule as to recognition
| in cases Of revolutions is to recognize de
! facto conditions, and If the United States
| consular officers at Panama and Colon re-
| port that there is an actual stable work
| ing government in possession of the 18TH
mus they will be allowed to do business
| with II.
L A ia