And State Papers 731 



United States troops to restore order, the com- 

 mander of the newly landed Colombian troops had 

 indulged in wanton and violent threats against 

 American citizens, which created serious apprehen- 

 sion. As Commander Hubbard reported in his let- 

 ter of November 5, this officer and his troops prac- 

 tically began war against the United States, and 

 only the forbearance and coolness of our officers 

 and men prevented bloodshed. The letter of Com- 

 mander Hubbard is of such interest that it deserves 

 quotation in full, and runs as follows: 



U. S. S. NASHVILLE, THIRD RATE, 

 Colon, U. S. Colombia, November 5, 1903 



SIR : Pending a complete report of the occurrences 

 of the last three days in Colon, Colombia, I most 

 respectfully invite the Department's attention to 

 those of the date of Wednesday, November 4, which 

 amounted to practically the making of war against 

 the United States by the officer in command of the 

 Colombian troops in Colon. At i o'clock P.M. on 

 that date I was summoned on shore by a precon- 

 certed signal, and on landing met the United States 

 consul, vice-consul, and Colonel Shaler, the general 

 superintendent of the Panama Railroad. The con- 

 sul informed me that he had received notice from 

 the officer commanding the Colombian troops, Colo- 

 nel Torres, through the prefect of Colon, to the ef- 

 fect that if the Colombian officers, Generals Tobal 

 and Amaya, who had been seized in Panama on the 

 evening of the 3d of November by the Independents 



