Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
INVASION OF PANAMA
Colombian Legation Knows
Nothing Of Hostilities.
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS
UNITED STATES PREPARED TO
PROTECT THE IsTHMUs.
War Rumors Unconfirmed, but Navy
Department Will Reinforce Marine
Guard With 800 Men.

Nothing of an official character concern
ing the reported movement of Colombian
troops upon the isthmus has been received
at the State Department since the rather
vague reports that came yesterday from
Venezuelan ports indicating that such
movement was ON foot. Nor had the min
lister from Panama any information on that
point when he called at the State Depart
ment today to talk the matter over with
Acting Secretary Loomis The two dis
cussed the probable failure Of any invasion
of Panama from the south, owing to the
enormous physical difficulties in the way.
At the Navy Department the important
step was announced Of reinforcing the ma
rine contingent on the isthmus by the force
of 800 now on the Prairie. 1t was an
nounced at the navigation bureau that Or
ders had been sent to Rear Admiral Bar
ker, commanding the north Atlantic squad
ron, now at Guantanamo, to dispatch the
Prairie to the isthmus. She will leave to-
morrow and will reach Colon by Monday
next. 1t is felt that thus reinforced the
marines now on the isthmus will be fully
competent to preserve order and prevent
stated yesterday, is fully prepared to re-
spond to any call that might come from
the navy and 1t is pointed out that the
transport Fitzpatrick, at present under Or
verted southwark from New York at any
time before she sails-about the Goth.
No Official News
Cablegrams received today by Gen. Rafael
Reyes. the Colombian minister and by Dr.
Herran. the Colombian first secretary of
legation. contain no reference to the re-
ported movement of Colombian troops
against Panama. In view of the pacific
tenor of their cablegrams received today
the officials Of the Colombian legation are
inclined to believe that the Colombian peo-
pie are obeying the final instructions of
Gen. Reyes. their commander-in-chief, who
before leaving his country issued an order
that no hostile move be made pending the
completion of his mission.
Secretary Hays illness has prevented
conference between him and the Colombian
minister this week, but upon the Secre-
tarys return to the State Department Gen.
Reyes expects to see him, and the chances
are the Iatter's mission will be concluded
very soon thereafter. Gen. Reyes has cabled
the Bogota government, setting forth very
explicitly and firmly the true situation here
He has not attempted in his adyices to
cloak the fact that there is no hope of pre-
vailing on the United States to retrace it's
steps with respect to the republic of PAN
anna. The only possible result Gen Reyes
can bring about here, as he has officially
Informed the Bogota government, would be
the securing of as satisfactory peace terms
with the new republic as the Washington
government would permit the latter to offer
Gen. Reyes was quite prepared to hear
this morning that Secretary Hays expIana-
ton OF the United States course on the 18TH
mus had created an unfortunate impression
in Bogota. The minister has never at
tempted to deny that there is the most bit-
ter feeling In his country today at the ac-
ton of the United States.
Pan-American diplomats say that with
the departure of Gen. Reyes from Washing
ton the Colombian legation will probably
remain closed for an indefinite period