J. Domingo de Obaldía, Governor of Panama at the time of the secession. Minister of Panama at Washington up to a few months ago. Acting President of Panama during absence of President Amador in Europe, and a presidential possibility. (COURTESY OF G. ANDREVE.) U. S. S. Nashville, November 3, Colon, U. S. S. Colombia, November 4. Sir:-The condition of affairs at Panama being such that any movement of troops to that neighborhood must inevitably produce a conflict and interrupt that transit of the Isthmus, which the U. S. Government is pledged to maintain uninterrupted, I am obliged to prohibit the carrying of troops of either party, or in either direction by your railroad, and hereby notify you that I do so prohibit it. Yours very respectfully, JOHN HUBBARD Commander, U. S. Navy, Commanding. To Col. Shaler, General Supt., P. R. R., Colon. More U. S. Vessels Arrive. Colon Starlet: The United States steamer Dixie arrived on the 5th at 7 p. m. A force of between three and four hundred men was immediately landed. The Dixie is a practice and troop ship attached to the Caribbean fleet with headquarters at Culebra Island, Porto Rico. Colon Starlet, November 12: The U. S. S. Atlanta left Kingston, Jamaica at 10 a. m., the 5th inst., and arrived at Colon on the morning of the 6th, a record run, and a chance for a crack ship to display her steaming powers. The Atlanta was ordered to Guantanamo, Cuba, on October 18th. This brings the combined American force at Colon to three vessels and over 1,000 men. Washington despatch dated November 7:-The battleship Maine has been ordered to Colon. (From Colon Starlet, November 10, 1903). Washington, November 6:—To the American Naval Commanders on the Isthmus: Forces will be increased if necessary to prevent conflict between the Bogota Government and the secessionists. Colombia must settle the quarrel with its subjects peacefully, if at all. It is the only way to stop the yearly insurrections on the Isthmus, and relieve the United States of the burden of policing a territory that is not its own. Colombian Troops Re-embark. The Colombian troops comprising the "Tiradores" battalion, which were left in charge of Col. Torres during These Brands are the Standard for values and at All Times a Joy to the most fastidious. TO BE HAD ONLY FROM MAXIMILIAN JONAS. COLON, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. SOLE AGENT for the ISTHMUS of PANAMA. re some the enforced absence of Gens. Tovar and Amaya in Panama, surrendered their arms on the 5th, two days after the act of secession, and arrangements were at once made for their return to Cartagena. It was first decided that Gens. Tovar and Amaya should leave the Isthmus on the steamer carrying the troops, but later it was considered that this might be an unwise move, for when the officers joined their men they might try to incite them to further efforts. They were held prisoners in Panama until the sailing of the next Royal Mail steamer for Cartagena, a matter of ten days or so, and were then taken to Colon under a military escort composed entirely of young men from the capital city, under the leadership of Guillermo Andreve, aide-de-camp to Gen. Domingo Diaz. nection with the departure of the troops, the Colon Starlet of November 7th has the following: In con "The sailing of the Colombian battalion "Tiradores" on the night of the 5th on the Royal Mail steamer, Orinoco, took away all danger that existed of a conflict on the Isthmus. The defenses of the U. S. Marines were at once taken down." As an additional inducement to the Colombian troops to accept with resignation the new state of affairs, a purse of money is reported to have been made up and turned over to Col. Torres for himself and men. It was also rumored at the time that this officer was arrested and shot upon his arrival at Cartagena, but the Colon Starlet of November 24th corrects the report, and refers to the disposition of the money, as follows: "We understand that Col. Torres was not shot as was reported, and that the money from Panama, $8,000 in gold, which was presented to himself and troops, he turned over to his government on his arrival at Cartagena." Again on the 25th, the Starlet says: "Anent the paragraph in Tuesday's issue of the handing Junta Defines Status of P. R. R. Before affairs reached a critical pass, officials of the Panama Railroad Company arrived at an understanding with the leaders of the secessionary movement, as described in the copies of correspondence reproduced here. It is interesting to note that it was the idea of the provisional junta to name the new republic, the Republic of the Isthmus. It is evident that this name did not meet with popular approval, as the new republic came into being under the name of the Republic of Panama. PANAMA RAILROAD COMPANY. Dear Prescott: November 2, 1903. I send you herewith memo, of points that should be covered in any communication addressed to us. Of course, there are many others, and you had better see Dr. Pablo Arosemena as soon as you can do so consistently and let him advise you fully. The object is to have the New Government send us such communication as will free us from liability in case there is a failure. Don't fail to get full advice and be governed by it. I send this by No. 5 to-morrow that you may have it early. Yours truly, J. R. SHALER, Genl. Supt. " Junta Defines Status of P. R. R. = 253 "Of course, you understand that we will not accept any requests from the proposed New Government, unless they are backed up by military force. But I advise you of this fully in case there may be interruption of communication between Panama and Colon. ("Memorandum" cited in above letter.) PANAMA RAILROAD COMPANY. Dear Mr. Prescott:--- Monday, November 2, 1903. Have just wired you that Nashville has been sighted. This, I presume settles the question. I have to suggest that New Government should address a communication to the Gen'l Supt., stating the facts that may have transpired up to the time when |