New Britain herald., 1918-06-29
AMERICAN TROOPS POLICING STREETS
 / 0F ZONE CITIES
Enter Panama and Colon to Pre-
 vent Disorders Incident to Election Excitement ..t
PRESIDENT URRI0LA
 PROTESTS TO WILSON

Defern1ent of Elections by Present . Administration Leads to Drastic
 Action by United Statcs--Soldiers
 Had Been Forbidden to Enter
 Cities Because of Vice Conditions
 No Untoward Acts Reported.
 Panama, June 29.-Upon orders from Washington, American troops began policing Panama and Colon at o'clock yesterday afternoon. The action was taken under the treaty of 1904 authorizing the United States to assume this police duty whenever it ,4 was necessary to maintain order. The Panama government has protested to Washington aganst the measure.
 Because the former administration had refused to correct conditions in the two cities soldiers in the Canal zone were forbidden to enter them land the civilian employees boycotted Colon and Panama untl the mandate of the military authorities was car ried out by the Panama government {. The new administration, under Presi- < dent Urriola, began to clean up the E cities but, in connection with this ! work. announced that the elections fixed for June 80 and July would be postponed for six months, because of fear of serious disorders.
 The opposition party protested to Washington against the deferment, claiming it would serve no purpose except to favor the candidates SUD- ported by the new administration.
 Tho American state department advised President Urriola to hold the uAecAoAs, out he replied that 8 fair election could not be held now and suggested that American commits .sionerS supervise the making up of Spoll books and assuaae charge of an election to bo held late in July or early in August, which the president said could be held in an open and fair manner. No disorders have been reported since it was announced that the decree forbidding the elections would be enforced by the police
 The opposition party again pro- tested to Washington and yesterday morning the American state depart ment notified the president of Pana- ma that because of disorders Ameri-
  til further notice. No time limit be- ing set, there is no one in Panama > who knows how long the occupation will continue
 Criticism By Urrio1a.
 Dr. Giro Urriola, the president yes- terday issued the following:
 At that hour, in the midst of pro- found tranquility, the armed Ameri- can forces entered Panama and Colon without the least resistance on the part of our police or of the authori- ties, notwithsta nding that the Pana- man government did not have time to inform the city authorities as to the N manner in which the American 32troops would exercise their functions as police because the memorandum covering this feature was not hand ed to me until after one o'clock in the afternoon.
 1T do not wish to chara acterize now Yns unjustifable this act of the gov ernment of the United States, but the fact should be considered that my government, with the forces at its disposal, is able to maintain public order in the whole nation and, with out doubt in the cities of Panama and Colon. True it is that there is con- siderable political excitement be- cause of the approaching elections but this is characteristic of all de- mocra cies. It is also true that, all though there were fears of disturb ances in some parts of the republic q nothing had taken place, nor coulC take place which would give rise to 2 doubt Chat my government Is impo tent to put down with a strong hand the least attempt at public disorder
 "It is also pertinent that the polit- lcal problem which stirs the country could have been solved satisfactorily by the United States, whose friendly cooperation we solicited"
 Cables Protest to Wilson.
 President Urriola has prepared manifesto to the country and yester. 1av sent the following cablegram tc President Wilson:
 I protest against this interference which violates the sovereignty of Pan anna without any justification, inas. much as the government of Panama has sufficient means to maintain pub lie order in these cities, and I decline to share with your ENcellency's gov ', ernment the responsibilities which sc grave an action implies.''
 No Protest Received.
 Washington, June 2o.-The protest