Evening journal., 1904-01-04

les VI theSe letters are hereto aDpeuoede
also copy Of my notification TO the consul.
Except TO a few people. nothing was
known In Colon Of the proceedings in
Panama until the arrival Of the train at
l0:45 on the morning OF the 4th. Some
propositions were 1 was later told. made
to Colonel Torres by the representatives
OF the new government at Colon, with a
view TO inducing him 10 re-embarl5 in the
Cartagena and return to the port OF Car
tagcna, and II was In answer to this prop
osition that Colonel Torres made the
threat and took the action reported in
my letter No. 96. Of Nov 5. 1908 The
CartaRena left the port just after tho
threat was made. and l did not deem II
expedient to attempt to detain her, as
such action would certainly. In the then
state Of affairs. have precipitated a con-
ilict on shore which was not prepared to
meet Ii Is my understanding that she
returned to Cartagena. After the with
drawal Of the Colombian troops on the
evening OF Nov. 4 and the return OF the
Nashvillc's force on board. as reported in
my letter No. SO. there was no disturbances
on shore, and the night passed quietly.
On the morning OF the 5th l discovered
that the commander OF the Colombian
troops had not withdrawn so far from the
town as he had agreed, but was occupying
buildings near the outskirts Of the town.
l Immediately inquired into the matter
and learned that he had some trivial ex-
cuse for not carrying out his agreement
and also that Il was his intention to oc-
cupy Colon again on the arrival OF the
alcalde duo at l0:45 a. m. unless General
Tobal sent word by the alcalde that he.
Colonel Torres. should withdraw. That
General Tobal had declined to give any
instructions ] was cognizant OF. and the
situation at once became quite as serious
as on the day previous. Immediately
landed an armed force reoccupied the
same building; also landed two l pound
ers and mounted them on platform cars
behind protection of cotton bales, and
then in company with the United States
consul had an interview with Colonel
Torres. In the course Of which 1 Informed
him that had relanded my men because
he had not-kept his agreement; that had
no interest In the affairs OF either party;
that my attitude was strictly neutral;
that the troops Of neither side should be
transported that my sole purpose in land
ing was to protect the lives and property
Of American citizens IL threatened, as
they had been threatened. and to main
tain the free and uninterrupted transit OF
the isthmus. and that purpose / should
maintain by force II necessary. I also
strongly advised that IN the interests OF
peace and to prevent the possibility Of a
conflict that could not but be regrettable
he should carry out his agreement OF the
previous evening and withdraw to Mon
key hill
Colonel Torres only reply was that It
was unhealthy at Monkey hill. a reitera-
ton Of his love OF Americans and per-
sistence IN his intention to occupy Colon
should General Tobal not give him direc-
tions TO the contrary.
On the return OF the elcalde at about II
n. m. the Colombian troops marched into
Colon, but did not assume the threa tening
demeanor OF the previous day The Amer
lean women and children again went on
board the Marcomania and City OF Wash
ington. and through the British vice con-
sui / offered protection to British SUBJ
jects as directed in the departments ca
blegram. A copy OF the British vice COM
suls acknowledgment Is hereto appended.
The Nashville I got under way as on thu
previous day and moved close in to pro-
tect the water front. During the after
noon several propositions were made to
Colonel Torres by the representatives OF
the new government, and he was finally
persuaded by them to embark on the
Royal Mall steamer Orinoco with all his
troops and return TO Cartagena The
Orinoco left her dock with the troops-474
all told-at 1885 p. m. The Dixie arrived
and anchored at 7.o5 p. m. when I went
on board and acquainted the commanding
officer with the situation. A portion OF
the marine battalion was landed and thu
Nashville's force withdrawn.
90 On the evening OF Nov. Major will
Brooke, corps OF engineers United States
army came to Colon from Culebra and
volunteered their services. which were ac-
cepted, and they rendered very efficient
help on the following day.
% I beg to assure the department that
had no part whatever in the negotia-
tons that were carried on between Colo-
mel Torres and the representatives OF the
provisional government; that I landed an
armed force only when the lives Of Amer
lean citizens were threatened and with
drew this force as soon as there seemed
to be no grounds for further apprehension
Of injury 70 American lives OF property:
that I reianded an armed force because
OF the failure OF Colonel Torres 10 carry
out his agreement 10 withdraw and ans
nounced intention of returning and that
my attitude throughout was strictly neu-
trial as between the two parties, my only
purpose being TO protect the lives and
property Of American citizens and to pre-
serve the free and uninterrupted transit
Of the isthmus Very respectfully,
JOHN HUBBARD,
Commander u. S. Navy, Commanding.
The Secretary Of the Navy, Bureau Of
Navigation. Navy Department. WASH
ington.
Ships Sent None Too Soon.
This plain official account Of the oc-
currences of Nov. 4 shows that, IN
stead Of there having been too much
provision by the American government
for the maintenance of order and the
protection Of life and property on the
isthmus. the orders for the movement
Of the American warships had been too
long delayed-so long. in fact, that
there were but forty-two marines and
sailors available TO land and protect
the lives Of American men and women.
1t was only the GOODNESS and gallantry
with which this little band Of men
wearing the American uniform faced
ten times their number of armed foes,
bent on carrying out the atrocious
threat Of the Colombian commander,
that prevented murderous catastro-
phe. At Panama when the revolution
broke out there was no American man
of-war and no American troops or sail
ors. At Colon Commander Hubbard
acted with entire impartiality toward
both sides. preventing any movement,
whether by the Colombians or the Pan.
amans. which would tend to produce
bloodshed. On Nov. 9 he prevented a
body Of the revolutionists from landing
at Colon. Throughout he behaved IN
: the most creditable manner. In the
New York Evening Post under date OF
Panama. Dec. s. there is an article from
/ a special correspondent which sets
I forth in detail the unbearable oppres.
sion OF the Colombian government In