The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

! Report That Colombia Has a Force
on the Way TO COerce the Pana-
maninns Is Not Credited at wash
tngtOn-HOW the Report Is Ae-
counted FOr-United States Would
Not Tolerate Such a Movement.
| Washington. Nov. 1.-THE State De-
partment has no knowledge of the
marching of an army from Colombia
| upon the isthmus, and the officials state
! that if there We're any such move
| ment in progress it certainly would
be informed by it's agents in the South.
the cables being still open. These Of
hcials scout the idea that any such
march is in progress, as the President
| OF Colombia is reported to have de-
| scribed to the President of Ecuador.
1t is assumed here that the army"
said to be marching on Panama was
| nothing more than the few men, per-
! haps, 500 all told, who We're about to
embark at Buena Ventura a few DAYS
| ago, when they were turned back from
the isthmus by notice of the determine
ton of the United States naval COM
| manders to allow no landings in that
quarter. These troops cannot reach
the isthmus by water, and the Off
Gals here are positive that they can
not do so by land on account of the
nature of the intervening country.
! But there are more than physical
| obstacles in the way of the approach
of an army upon Panama The off,
Gals do not care to express publicly
| their plans, but enough has been learn
| ed from the instructions given to our
naval commanders to make it evident
that never again will the isthmus be-
come the seat of warfare so long as
the United States government can pre-
vent it.
| The difference between the present
| situation on the isthmus and that which
| existed last year, when Commander
| Mclean prevented armed troops from
| crossing the isthmus by rail is Just
| this: The authorities have now de-
termined to extend the lines of protec-
ton to the railroad. They will not al
| low hostile forces, no matter whether
they are Colombian or Panama troops.
| to come into collision anywhere near
the railroad, and to prevent such coils
| ions it will be necessary to extend the
neutral zone clear to the north and
south boundaries of the republic of
| Panama.
Officials here will not make such a
statement publicly, they simply say:
| wait till the emergency arises" But
| it is known that such We're the plans
of the naval commanders, and as there
is no indication of a change in these
| plans, not the slightest apprehension
| is felt here of the encroachment of any
| Colombian army upon Panama.
In order that the contemplated mis-
sion of Gen. Reyes, of the Colombian
| government to Panama, having for its
| object the making of overtures to the
| new republic designed to secure its re-
| turn to the national domain, may not
| be accompanied by any unpleasant in
| cidents, due to the possibility of his
coming without being officially accred-
| tied, Secretary Hay to-day. after
conference with Minister Bunau-Varil-
| la, determined to accord Gen. Reyes
| the courtesies Of a warship upon his
| arrival at the isthmus, should he de-
| sire to go aboard one. 1t also was ar
ranged with Secretary Hay that war
| ship will be specially assigned to the
| government of Panama. in which its
officials may hold conferences with the
Colombian representative, should they
| desire to do so.