At about 5.30 P.M. Colonel Torres made the proposition of withdrawing his troops to Monkey Hill, if I would withdraw the _Nashville’s_ force and leave the town in possession of the police until the return of the alcalde on the morning of the 5th. After an interview with the United States consul and Colonel Shaler as to the probability of good faith in the matter, I decided to accept the proposition and brought my men on board, the disparity in numbers between my force and that of the Colombians, nearly ten to one, making me desirous of avoiding a conflict so long as the object in view, the protection of American citizens, was not imperiled. I am positive that the determined attitude of our men, their coolness and evident intention of standing their ground, had a most salutary and decisive effect on the immediate situation, and was the initial step in the ultimate abandoning of Colon by these troops and their return to Cartagena the following day. Lieutenant-Commander Witzel is entitled to much praise for his admirable work in command on the spot. I feel that I can not sufficiently strongly represent to the Department the grossness of this outrage and the insult to our dignity, even apart from the savagery of the threat. Very respectfully, JOHN HUBBARD, _Commander, U. S. Navy, Commanding_. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, _Navy Department, Washington, D. C._ In his letter of November 8 Commander Hubbard sets forth the facts more in detail: U. S. S. NASHVILLE, THIRD RATE, _Porto Bello, U. S. Colombia, November 8, 1903_ SIR: 1. I have the honor to make the following report of the occurrences which took place at Colon and Panama in the interval between the arrival of the _Nashville_ at Colon on the evening of November 2, 1903, and the evening of November 5, 1903, when by the arrival of the U. S. S. _Dixie_ at Colon I was relieved as senior officer by Commander F. H. Delano, U. S. Navy.