The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-10
PANAMA HEARS A
TRAMP Of HOSTS
Marhing From all Parts
of Colombia.
REYES, HERRAN DOUBT
Over a Thousand Reported Landed
Near the Gulf of Darien. The
United States Ready to Dis
patch Troops at Short
h4ts~4
Notice.
(By the Associated Press.)


French steamer Versailles, which has ar
rived here from Savanilla, reports that
the Colombian steamers have landed
100 men from Cartagena, near the
Daren) to open way over the Darien
mountains into Panama. other troops
from the Department of Cauca, Colombo
are said to be converging on Panama, and
from all parts of Colombia troops are re-
ported to be marching or waiting On the
result of the General Reyes mission to
Washington.
Washington, Dec. 9.-Dr. Herran, the
Colombian Charge D'Affaires, today au-
thorized the statement that if troops
from Carthagena have landed near the
mouth of the Atratro River as reported
by the French steamer, which has arrived
at La Guaira it is directly in opposition
to the advice of both himself and Cen
eral Reyes.
General Reyes stated that the La Guaira
dispatch was the first information he had
received of the reported movement OF
Colombian troops. He declared, however,
| that if it is true as stated. that such
any orders from him. Upon coming to
Washington as the special representative
of the Colombian government, General
Reyes temporarily relinquished the COM
mand of the Colombian army, the duties
| falling upon General Castro, second in
command General Reyes confirmed the
statement recently made by Admiral
| Coghlan in a report to the Navy Depart
ment that prior to his departure for
Washington he had given instructions to
| the Colombian troops to make no hostile
demonstration until he was heard from,
and said that these troops were now
awaiting orders which, however, would
not come from him direct, but from the
government at Bogota.
| The General has been fully informed
by the President himself as to the inten-
tions of the government of the United
States respecting the isthmus. He was
| told by the President that. as was set
out in the Presidents message to Con-
gress, the United States had determined
to maintain the independence of the new
Republic of Panama against all comers.
While this guarantee is contained in
| treaty now pending before the United
States Senate, and as yet unratfied, the
administration has for some time past
been acting upon the theory that the
understanding is in full force. Therefore,
all necessary preparations have been
made to exert whatever physical force
may be necessary to protect the isthmian
transit. No Colombian troops will be al
lowed to cross the frontier into Panama;
or, if they cross they will be elected in
due time.
The policy of the Navy Department
with respect to the entry of Colombian
troops into Panama was said today to be
to prevent a conflict before it commenced.
To this end the naval commanders in those
waters have been given instructions to
keep the Colombian troops at greater
distance from the Isthmus at paints
where a fight with the Panamaian troops
is likely to occur. In all naval opera
tfons, it may be stated on authority, the
department is still guided by the treaty
of 1916, under which the United States
guarantees to keep transit across the
sthmus open. A broader Interpretation
of the duties and responsibilities of the
government in this respect has now been
given to this treaty, by which the protec-
tion of the United States will not alone
be confined to the canal strip, but to any
part of the territory of Panama.
When seen today Lieutenant General
Young chief of staff. authorized the state
ment to be made that the War Depart
ment was ready to dispatch troops to the
isthmus On short notice, should their
presence be demanded. Although the
statement heretofore has been denied, it
is learned that the department has taken
notice of the repeated reports that Co
lombian troops were assembling at differ
ent points with the avowed purpose OF
making hostile demonstration against
Panama, and has perfected all military
plans to repel such an invasion.
General Young said that should he be
called upon to assist the navy it would
not be necessary to send to the isthmus
more than a regiment or two. Although
none of the members OF the joint army
and navy board, which net today, would
admit that the istbmian situation was
under discussion. it is known that such
was the case and that both the army and
the navy are now in state Of prepared
ness for any conflict with Colombia,
which might arise.