726 Presidential Addresses 



General, adding that on the Isthmus the excitement 

 was seething, and that the Colombian troops were 

 reported to be disaffected. In response to a ques- 

 tion of mine they informed me that it was the gen- 

 eral belief that the revolution might break out at 

 any moment, and if it did not happen before, would 

 doubtless take place immediately after the closing 

 of the Colombian Congress (at the end of October) 

 if the canal treaty were not ratified. They were 

 certain that the revolution would occur, and before 

 leaving the Isthmus had made their own reckoning 

 as to the time, which they had set down as being 

 probably from three to four weeks after their leav- 

 ing. The reason they set this as the probable inside 

 limit of time was that they reckoned that it would 

 be at least three or four weeks say not until Octo- 

 ber 20 before a sufficient quantity of arms and 

 munitions would have been landed. 



In view of all these facts I directed the Navy 

 Department to issue instructions such as would en- 

 sure our having ships within easy reach of the 

 Isthmus in the event of need arising. Orders were 

 given on October 19 to the Boston to proceed to 

 San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; to the Dixie to pre- 

 pare to sail from League Island; and to the Atlanta 

 to proceed to Guantanamo. On October 30 the 

 Nashville was ordered to proceed to Colon. On 

 November 2, when, the Colombian Congress having 

 adjourned, it was evident that the outbreak was 

 imminent, and when it was announced that both 

 sides were making ready forces whose meeting 



