The Red Cloud chief., 1904-01-08

building OF the railroad al
most Immediately after we had taken
possession, and for about one and n
half hours their attitude was most
threatening, II being seemingly their
purpose to provoke an attack. Hap
PLY our men were cool and steady, and
while the tension was very great no
shot was fired. At about 3:15 p. m.
Colonel Torres came into the building
FOR an interview and expressed himself
as most friendly To Americans. claiming
that the whole affair was a misa ppre-
hension and that he would like to send
the alcalde of Colon to Panama to sec
General Tobal n have him direct the
discontinuance of the show OF force. a
special train was furnished and safe
conduct guaranteed.
Al about $3.50 y. m. Colonel Torres
made the proposition Of Withdrawing
his troops to Monkey Hill, ~ / would
withdraw the Nashvillc's force and
leave the town in the possession OF
the police until the return OF the all
calde on the morning Of the 5th. After
an interview with tho United States
consul and Colonel Shaler as to the
probability of good faith In the matter,
1 declined to accept the proposition
and brought my men on board. the dis
parity In numbers between my force
and that OF the Colombians nearly ten
to one, making me DESTROYS of avoid
Ing n conflict 80 long as the object
in view, the protection OF American
Citizens, was not imperiled.
II am positive that the determined
attitude OF our men. their coolness and
evident intention OF standing their
ground, had IA most salutary and de-
cisivc effect on the immediate situation
n was the initial step I'm the ultimate
abandoning of Colon by these troops
and their return to Cartagena the fol-
lowing day. Lieutenant Commonder
Witzel is entitled to much praise for
ms admirable work In command on the
spot.
Il feel that I can not sufficiently
strongly represent to the department
the g~rossncss OF this outrage and the
insult to our dignity, even apart from
the savagery of the threat.
Very respectfully.
JOHN HUBBARD,
Commander, y. S. Navy,
49,. Commanding.
The Secretary Of the Navy.
Navy Department, Washington, D.. c."
Full Report from Hubbard.
In his letter OF November 8 Com
mander Hubbard sets forth the facts
more i'm detail:
L. :. $. Nashville. Third Rate.
sir. 4 I have tho bonnr 20 ,naLa
| the following rcnort OF the occ,,rroncn.
| which took MACS nj Colon ana pano-
| ma I'm the interval bet ween the arrival
OF the Nashville at Colon on the even
ing of November . 1909 ana tho oven
ing of November g. 1909, when by the
| arrival NJ tho r. = = Dixia n, s,oion
l was relieved az senior officer by
Commander +. II. Delano, II. $. navy.
80 Al tho fin,n ~ tla orri..,l 90 sl,.
Nashville ut Colon at $3.50 y. m. on
November . everything on the isthmus
was quiet. There was talk of pro-
claiming the Independence Of Pana-
RIA, but no definite action had been
taken and there had been no disturb
anc1 OF peace and order. At day
liEiit oc the morning of November 3 Il
was found that a vessel which had
come in during the night was the
Colombian HunbOat Cartagrna CARRYING
between 400 and 500 troops. had
her boarded and learned that these
troops were for the garrison at Pana-
ma. Inasmuch as the independent party
had not acted and the government OF
| Colombia was ut that time I'm UNI
disputed control OF the Province OF
| Panama, ] did not feel. In the absence
Of any instructions, that I was justified
I'm preventing the landing OF these
| troops. and at $40 o'clock they were
| discmbarked. The commanding officers
| Generals Amaya and 'robal. with four
| others. immediately went over to Pana-
| ma to make arrangements for receive
| ing and olartcrin0 their troops. Ieay-
| ing The Command in charge OF an Of
| nCcr whom I later learned TO he Colonel
| Torres.
.r,.
uoi"I nnT.sas. n"uteas-
~. .u ", ~. ~ 80 20
Sui = Ie.e'Neu !" io.'V I'LL d "
H'cr'u " ono OIL we shlps poats wniIe
! was az .ne consu' u not 10 Ihe
CONSUL ~ aoulcsseu' me ihessnse was
ssau 10 nav pee" Ie'ei,eu !. ,ne Saole
olhee at 80 a.. III. ifnilleuIa'ely on
u~eclpher,'k tne ihcssakel went ashore
10 see What ~arransenlents the raiiroao
company hNd hiaue TOT thn u%ansporta,
tion Oh these troops 10 fahahla. ana