Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-01-07

then became obtainable. The condition
uunder which alone We could have gon
to Nicaragua thereby became impossible
Of fulfllment. II the pending treaty will
Panama should not be ratified by tn
senate, this would not alter the fact tina
we could not so to Nicaragua. The con
no alternative under existing legislation.
The president says that after thu
failure OF the Colombian congress 4
ratify the treaty II seemed that the gov
aqua route. and that he had made the
original draft Of his message to congress
along that line. This was one OF three
alternatives that confronted the govern
ment. Another was that the people Of
their own interests into their own hands
and establs.. q government competent
and willing to do It's share In the con-
struction of the canal. This Is what &C.
Nicaraguan route unnecessary. and, In
fact, impossible under the authority OF
the president as vested In him by the
action OF congress.
Report of Commander Hubbard.
The president emphatically denies that
this government had any hand IN the
instigating OF this revolution. he knew,
as all the world did, that such was i'm
minent, and the navy department took
interests, but nothing further. He gives
copies Of the orders sent to commanding
officers Of American warships. and their
various reports upon the situation he
war upon the United States at Colon. and
quotes the report Of Commander Hub
| bard Of the Nashville. dated November
8, to sustain this charge. In this report
Commander Hubbard says in part:
Pending a complete report OF the oc-
| currences of the last three days in Colon,
Colombia, ! most respectfully invite the
| departments attention to those. OF the
date OF "wednesday November 4; which
war against the United States by the
| officer In command OF the Colombian
troops in Colon. At one o'clock. p. m. on
that date l was summoned on shore by
the United States consul. vice consul and
Col. Shaler. the general superintendent
Of the Panama railroad. The. consul in
formed me that he had received notice
bian troops. Col. Torres, through the
project OF Colon. to the effect that II the
Colombian officers. Gems. Tobal and
Amaya, who had been seized In Panama
the independents and held as prisoners
were not released by two o'clock p. m.
he. Torres. would open fire on the town
OF Colon and kill every United States
either IN the place ana my adV ice, ana
the United States citizens should take
refuge in the shed OF the Panama Rail-
road company. stone building suscept-
IDLE Of being put into. good state for de:
such body OF men, with extra arms for
arming the citizens. as the complement
OF the ship would permit. This was
agreed to and l Immediately returned on
board, arriving at Ills p. m. The order
for landing was Immediately given, and
at 1880 p. m. the boats left the ship with
party OF ~ men under the command OF
Lieut. Commander H; M. Witzel. with
command. Time being pressing, ! gave
verbal orders to Mr.. Witzel to take the
building above referred to, to put II into
the best state OF defense possible. and
protect the lives of the citizens assembled
there-not firing unless fired upon.
The Colombians surrounded the build |
ing OF the railroad company almost i'm
mediately after We had taken possession. |
attitude. was most threatening, II being |
seemingly their purpose to provoke an |
attack. Happily our men were cool and |
steady, and while the tension was very
p. m. Col Torres came into the building
Tor an interview and expressed himself |
as most friendly to Americans, claiming
that the whole affair was a msappre-
the alcalde OF Colon to Panama to see
Gen. Tobal and have him direct the dis
OF the show OF force. A spec
cial train was furnished and safe conduct
u.
Torres made the proposition of withdraw
ing his troops to Monkey Hill, II would
withdraw the Nashville's force and leave
the town in possession OF the police until
of the 5th. After an interview with the
United States consul and Col Shaler as
to the probability of good faith In the
matter decided to accept the PROPOSE
ION and brought my men on board. the
disparity in numbers between my force
and that Of the Colomb!ans. nearly ten
10 one. making me DESTROYS OF avoiding
!, conflict so long as the object in view.
he protection Of American citizens. was
lot imperiled.
II am positive that the determined at
itude of our men, their GOODNESS and evil
lent intention OF standing their ground
lad a most salutary and decisive effect
IN the immediate situation and was the
initial step in the ultimate abandoning
II Colon by these troops and their return
o Cartagena the following day.
Il feel that cannot sufficiently strong
Y represent to the department the gross
less OF this outrage and the Insult to our
lightly. even apart from the savagery of ,
he threat"
In view of the reports OF the various
avail officers in Panama waters the presi-
ent concludes that. instead of there hav-
ne been too much provision by the Amer
can government for the maintenance of /,
rider and the protection of life and prop
rty on the isthmus the orders for the
movement of the American warships had :
cen too long delayed; so long. in fact,
nat there were but 42 marines and sailors :
valuable to land and protect the lives of , ,
american men and women. 1t was only the ,
oolness and gallantry with which this :
tile band of men wearing the American !
inform faced ten times their number of :
rmed foes. bent on carrying out the afro :
ous threat of the Colombian command =
:. that prevented murderous catastro- .
he. At Panama. when the revolution !;
roke out. there was no American man. =
f-war and no American troops or sailors. y
{ Colon, Commander Hubbard acted with /.
ltire impartiality towards both sides, :,
reventlng any movement. whether by the y y
olombians or the Panamans, which
ould tend to produce bloodshed On No =
ember he prevented body of the rev. :
utionists from landing at Colon" y y
No Completely I'm Revolution. n
Referring to the charges of completely b
this government in the revolution the a
resident says: II
81 hesitate TO refer to the injurious in g
nuations which have been made of COM II
lefty by this government in the revolu- I,
onary movement In Panama. They are n
destitute of foundation rs OF propriety. a
l.. q