The Red Cloud chief., 1904-01-08

Known IN Colon Of the proceedings in
Panama until the arrival OF the train
at i0:45 on the morning of the 4th.
Some propositions were, ! was told
made to Colonel Torres By the repre-
scntatIves of the new government at
Colon, with q view to inducing nim TO
re-embark i'm the Cartagena and re-
turn to the port OF Cartagena. and IT
was I'm answer to this proposition that
Colonel Torres made the threat AMI
took the action reported In my let
ter No. 96, OF November .. 1909. The
Cartasena LEFT the port Just after the
threat was made and I did not deem II
~expedient TO attempt to detain her.
"a such action would certainly. I'm the
then state OF affairs. have precipitated
prepared to meet. II is my UNDER
standing that she returned to Carta-
gena.
Violated His Agreement.
After the Withdrawal OF the Colom-
bian troops on the evening OF Novem-
Der 4. and the return OF the NASH
ville's force on board. as reported in
my letter No. &c. there was no dis
turbance on shore. and the night pas
sed quietly. On the morning of the
9Th l discovered that the mmande
OF the Colombian troops had not with
drawn so far from tho town as he had
agreed. but was occupying buildings
les the outskirts OF the town. i'm
mediately inquired into the matter and
learned that he had some trivial ex-
cuse for not carrying o. his agree
ment. and also that II was his inten-
ton to occupy Colon again on the ar
rival OF the alcalde due at 10:45 a. M,
unless General Tobal sent word by the
alcalde that he, Colonel Torres, should
withdraw.
"Thta General Torres had declirrd to
give IN instructions / was cognizant
OF. and the situation Mt once became
quite az serious as OF the day previous.
l Immediately landed an armed force.
re-occupied the same building: also
landed two 1-pounders and mounted
them OH platform cars behind protec-
ton Of cotton bales. and her I'm COM
pany with the United States consul
had an interview with Colonel Torres,
in the course OF which / Informed him
that I had rclanded my men because ne
a not kept his agreement; that I had
no interest In the affairs of either par
ty: that my attitude was strictly neu-
trail: that the troops OF neither side
should be transported: hat my sole
purpose in landing was TO protect the
lives and property OF American citizens
IL threatened, as they had been threat
ened. and to maintain the free and un-
interrupted transit OF the isthmus, and
that purpose I should maintain by force
IL necessary. ] also strongly advised
that I'm the interests Of peace, and to
prevent the possibility Of a conflict
that could not but be re~grettable, he
should carry out his agreement OF the
previous evening and withdraw to
Monkey Hill.
Colonel Torres only reply was that
II was unhealthy at Monkey Hill, a re-
iteration of mis- owe of Americans. and
persistence in his intention to occupy
Colon. should General Tobal not give
him directions to the contrary.
Not Quite So Threatening.
o II return OF the alcalde about
IL a. IN. the Colombian troops marched
into Colon. but did not assume the
threatening demeanor OF the previous
day. The American women and chill
dren again went aboard the Marcom-
ania and City of Washington. and
through the British ~vice-consul I offer
ed protection to British subjects as
directed I'm the departments Cablegram.
A copy of the British vice-consul's
acknowledgements Is hereto appended.
The Nashville 1 got under way as on
the previous day n moved close in
to protect h water front.
buIllS TIE sIttf iIDoI scNcldi pIoIo-
sitions We're made to Colonel Torres by
the representatives OF the new govern
ment. and he WAS finally persuaded by
them to embark on the royal mail
steamer Orinoco with all his troops and
return to C~artagena. The Orinoco
left her dock with the troops-E% all
told-at 1895 p. IN. The Dixie ar
lived and anchored at 7:05 p. m, when
l went on board and acquainted the
commanding officer with the situation.
A portion OF the marine battalion was
landed and the Nashville's force with
drawn.
"s. On the evening Of November 4
Major William NJ. Black and Lieuten-
ant Mark Brooke, corps OF engineers.
United States army. came to Colon
from Culebra and volunteered their
services. which were accepted. anS
they rendered very efficient help on
the following day.
No Part in Negotiations.
-. beg to assure the department
that I had no part whatever In the
negotiations that were carried on be-
tween Colonel Torres and the represent
tatives of the provisional government;
that ] landed an armed force only when
the lives oil American citizens were
threatened, and withdrew this force
as 500 as there seemed to be no
GROUNDS TOT Iurtnef Apprehension ot
injury to American lives or property:
that l relandcd an armed force because
OF the failure of Colonel Torres 70 car
ry out his agreement to withdraw and
intention OF returning, and
that my attitude throughout was
strictly neutral as between the two
parties. my only purpose being to pro-
tect the lives and property OF American
citizens and to preserve the free and
uninterrupted transit of the isthinus.
Very respectfully.
JOHN HUBBARD.
Commander, l.. $. Navy, commanding
Tho Secretary of the Navy,
Bureau of Navigation, Navy Depart"
ment, Washington. ID. G."
American Action Too Long Delayed.
This plain official account Of the oc-
currences Of November 4, shows that,
instead 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
isthInus, the orders for the movement
OF the American warships had been too