New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-14
WASHINGTON EXPECTS
EARLY ADJUSTMENT
Panama Neutrality Incident Re-
veaIs Navy's Weakness
in GunbOatS.

.
course of to-day. The Navy Depart
ment, ready to dispatch the requisi-
toned swift ships" waits on the War
Department for information regarding
the exact terms of Colonel Goethals's
request. The War Department in
turn, awaits a second dispatch from
Colonel Goethals. The State Depart
ment simply waits.
High officials Of the administration
are disposed TO minimize the impor-
lance Of the incident. It is felt that
disregard Of American neutrality reg
ulatous by the commander Of the
collier Lena I'm the use of wireless
should not be accepted as significant
Of a general intention Of the British
naval authorities 20 ignore rules laid
down by this government. II is be-
lieved that when they know the facts
the British Admiralty will give the
commander Of the Lena and the British
navy and auxiliaries generally instruc-
tions which will prevent repetition
of the offence.
At the British Embassy Ambassador
Spring Rice informed The Tribune cor
respondent that no word Of any SORT
either from the British consular officers
at Panama or Colon or from Downing
Street, had been received. All his in
formation had come through American
newspapers.
The ambassador indicated that the
British policy was to follow TO the
letter all rules governing neutrality
which the United States or any other
of the neutral governments might pro-
mulgate. The right of the United
States 20 enforce neutrality in the Pan
anna Canal Zone and contiguous Ameri-
can waters was as definite as the right
to preserve it in New York Harbor.
Secretary Of War Garrison said to-
night:
81 have had no reply from Colonel
Goethals to my telegram seeking fur
Their information. shall take no &C
ton and make no request upon the
Navy Department until do"
Colonel Goethals's request means
that the Navy Department, if it sends
any ships, will have to send destroy
ers to do the work OF policing the
canal terminals. No gunboats or pro-
tected cruisers can be spared from
their present duties in the Caribbean
and along the Mexican coast.
The situation at Panama is cited by
opponents of the present naval policy
as revealing how neglect to provide an
adequate number of gunboats has de-
prived the United States of the power
to enforce neutrality in the Canal
Zone. The General Board in its
recommendations for 19l5-16 urged
the building Of more Punboats for just
this sort o. work. It pointed out that,
with the exception Of two river gun
boats. built for the China station, the
United States Navy had added only
one seagoing gunboat to the fleet in
nearly fifteen years.
1t is suggested that the craft to pa
troll the canal entrances. both Atlantic
and Pacidc particularly in war time,
but with almost equal necessity IN
times of peace. should be four gun
boats capable of steaming at reason
ably high speed and carrying crew
sufficient TO allow the landing OF a
party of 100 20 so men at any time.
The DESTROYER crews are small and
their fuel expense Is high. They are
not equipped for proper patrol work.
Panama, Dec. 13.-The action Of the
Australian collier Mallina, which LETT
Balboa without clearance papers, and
the fact that this and other golfers
have shown a disposition TO disre ara
the Canal Zone shipping laws, actuated
Colonel GOethals to take decisive step
10 preserve in every way the neutrality
Of the canal.
Nearly all the GOLFERS which have
gathered in canal waters arrived with
out health certificates and In several
instances sailed without clearance
papers. II is presumed that tle steam
crs met and coaled the Australian end
English feet which concentrated re-
Gently in the vicinity OF the Pearl
Islands, which lie sixty mules south-
east Of Panama City.
The Uuiteu States torpedo boat de-
stroyers requested by the Governor are
expected TO 40 patrol duty end promptly
10 overhaul any belligerent craft at
tempting to disregard the canal author
tiles.
Alleged violations Of the canal ship
ping avs have, It is said, been the
subject of complaint TO Sir Claude 4
Mal!et, British Minister TO Panama
and also have resulted in causing
orders to be given the tortihcatlons 10
prevent unneutral cOlllers remaining
in ports in the Canal Zone, in disre
gard of the orders Of the canal authorl'
ties.
In the case of the collier Mallina, il
is stated that she arrived without
clearance papers or health certificate
and with no coal or supplies. She at
tempted 20 buy $4,000 worth Of sup
b plies. consisting largely of articles in
. tended for a Christmas dinner for {
) large force. The supplies were refused
b and she was ordered TO depart because
she refused 10 state her destination. al
. required By the Canal Zone laws. Tn,
: collier Protesilaus is cited as present
b ing a similar case.
IL is stated that there has been much
/ wireless interference IN canal waters
4 on the part Of eight golfers which re
/ Gently were in the vicinity of the canal
and also by large warship fleets, re
ported 10 be within twenty-five mile.
Of both ends of the canal.