New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-10
Here on Leave After Res
ignation as Governor OF
Canal Zone.
TIRED OF BEING
ISTHMUS DICTATOR
Work There Is Finished, He
Says, and He Now Wants to
Do DUTY as a Soldier.

Major General George ". Cocktails,
L. S. A., builder Of the Panama Canal,
and now Governor Of the Canal Zone,
arrived here yesterday from Colon. &C
companied by Mrs. Goethals and his
son Thomas, on the steamship Pastores.
He will return in a month or two, but
merely TO pack up his lares and penates
and come back to the states, for his
resignation as Governor Of the Ameri-
can strip across the isthmus is now in
the hands Of the government.
lie declared that he wanted active
service. and failing this he said he
would ask TO be retired from the army.
Mrs. Goethals also announced that she
was through with the tropics, and al
though she has had many pleasant days
down near the Equator while her IA
nous husband was at work upon his
great task, she said she was tired of
the life, and had no desire to return
TO Panama.
General Goethals seemed pleased
yesterday to be up North again as he
came ashore from the Pastores with a
light step and hustled about his bag
gage. He wore a tight fitting blue
serge suit which made him look more
slender than usual. Age seems to have
spared him, and he appeared to be less
nervous than on previous visits when
he had hurried here with the burdens
OF his great Office upon him. The canal
builders face lost none Of the tan
taken on in the tropics, and the bronze
made his hair and mustache seem all
the whittier.
as there any foundation for the ri
more that you are about 10 resign ne
was asked.
yes" he replied in a matter Of fact
way, "because ] have resigned. Ny
resignation will take effect on Novem-
Der /. OF course | mean my resigna-
ton as Governor Of the Canal zone. /
am here on leave"
Asked why he decided 10 resign Gen
eral Goethals said:
What more is there for me TO do?
] have been seven years on the lSthmuS.
The canal is finished, and with that
done | see no necessity for my remain
ing longer The operation of the canal
is now satisfactory.
"While have put in my resignation
rs civil Governor of the Canal Zone, l
have no intention Of leaving the army.
! shall ask to be put in active service.
If this is not done, ! shall ask to be
retired. | want to stay in the army.
but in active work"
General Goethals displayed much in
terest in the Mexican situation. lie
asked how the factions were getting on
and how the United States was dealing
with the revolutioniSts. His eyes
twinkled, and with a broad smile he
asked:
go you think they need dictator
down there just now? You know
have been one for seven years"
Concerning his plans the general said
he expected to 60 to Washington, and
if convenient would leave for San Fran
cisco on August 20 to visit the expo
sition.
81 would like to 60 out there quiet
w." ne said. Il don't want any fuss or
formaity about my visit. If ! thought
could go out there quietly think l
would 60"
General Goethals had hardly come
ashore when a messenger boy handed
him a brief cable message announcing
& new slide at the Gaillard cut. The
general passed the message to his wife.
remarking: This seems like old
times" lie said that the slides were
not serious, and might be expected
from time TO time.