The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-05

and ammunition were being struggled
/ into the city of Colon in piano boxes,
| merchandise crates, etc, the small arms
| received being principally the Gras
French rifle, the Remington, and the
Mauser, that nearly every citizen in
| Panama had some sort OF rife gun
| IN hi possession, with ammunition there
! for that in the city of Panama there
! had been organized a fire brigade which
| was really intended for revolutionary
military organization that there were
representatives of the revolutionary or
ganlzatlon at all important points on
the Isthmus; that in Panama, Colon
| and the other principal places OF the
! Isthmus police forces had been organi-
+! zed which were in reality revolutionary
forces that the people on the Isthmus
/ seemed to be unanimous in their senti-
/ ment against the Bogota Government,
and their disgust over the failure of
/ that Government to ratfy the treaty
providing for the construction OF the
canal, and that revolution might be
J expected Immediately upon the adjourn
/ ment of the Colombian Congress with
out Che ratification of the treaty.
Lieutenant General Young regarded
their report as OF such Importance as to
make it advisable that I should personally
see these officers. They told ne what
they fhad already reported to the I9ieuten-
ant General, adding that on the Isthmus
the excitement was seething, and that the
Colombian troops were reported to be
6isaffected. In response to a question of
mine they informed me that it was the
general belief that the revolution might
break out at any moment, and If it did
not happen before, would doubtless take
place Immediately after the closing OF
the Colombian Congress Cat the end OF
October) If the canal treaty were not
ratified. They were certain that the re-
yolution would occur. aud before leaving
TIE Isthmus had made their own reckon
ing as to the time, which they set down
as being probably from three TO four
weeks after their leaving The reason
they set this as the probable inside limit
Of time was that they reckoned it would
be at least three or four weeks say
rot until October 20-before q sufficient
quantity OF arms and munitions would
have been landed
IN view of all these facts | directed the
Navy Department to issue instructions
snch as would insure our having ships
within easy reach OF the Tsthmus in the
event OF need arising. Orders were given
October 10 TO the Boston to proceed
20 San Juan del Sur Nicara qua; to the
Dixie to prepare to sail from League Is.
land; and to the Atlanta to proceed to
Guantanamo. On October 30 the Nash
vile was ordered to proceed to Colon
On November when, the Colombian Con-
2ress having adjourned, it was evident
hat the outbreak was imminent and
when II was announced that both sides
were making ready forces whose meeting
would mean bloodshed and disorder. the
Colombian troops having been embarked
or vessels, the following instructions were
sent 20 the commanders OF the Boston,
Nashville, AID Dixie:
Maintain free and uninterrupted tran
sit. If interruption is threatened by
armed force, occupy the line of railroad.
Prevent landing of any armed force
with hostile intent, either Government
or insurgent, at any point within so
miles of Panama. Government force
reported approaching tho Isthmus in
vessels. Prevent their landing if. in your
Judgment, the landing would preclpitate
a conflict.
These orders were delivered in pur-
suance of the policy or which our Gov
eminent had repeatedly acted. This policy
was exhibited in the following orders,
given under somewhat similar circum-
stances last year, and the year before.
and the year before that. The first two
kilograms are from the Department of
State to the consul at Panama:
July %, 1900
/ You are directed to protest against
any act of hostility which may involve
or imperSl the safe and peaceful transit
d. he T-{l,
mus OF Panama. The bombardment OF
Panama would have this effect, and the
United States must insist upon the neu-
traGty of the Isthms as guaranteed by
the treaty.
November 90 1901.
Notify all parties molesting or inter
fering with free transit across the list
mis- that such interference must cease
nnd that the United States will prevent
The interruption of traffic upon the
railroad. Consult with captain of the
iowa, who will be instructed to land
marines, if necessary, for the protection
of the railroad, in accordance with the
treaty rights and obligations of the
United States. Desirable to avoid blood
shed, e possible.
The next three kilograms are from and
10 the Secretary of the Navy:
September -, 1902.
Ranger Panama:
United States guarantees perfect neu-
trality of IsthnuS and that free transit
from sea to sea be not interrupted
or embarrassed. *"a Any transporta-
ton Of troops which might contravene
these provisions Of treaty should not
be sanctioned by you nor should use of
road be permitted which might convert
the line of transit into theater of hos
tility.
MOODY.
Colon, September 20, 1902
Secretary Navy, Washington:
Everything is conceded. The United
States guards and guarantees traffic and
the line of transit. Today 1 permitted
the exchange of Colombian troops from
Panama to Colon, about 1000 men each
way, the troops without arms in train
guarded by American naval force in the
same manner as other passengers arms
and ammunition in separate train, guar
ded also by naval force in the same
manner as other freight
MCLEAN.
Panama. October 8. 1902