1885 Chilean-American war over Panama?

[Rob]

From wiki:


Panama Crisis[edit]
In March 1885 Colombia thinned its military presence in Panama by sending troops stationed there to fight rebels in Cartagena.[1][2] These favourable conditions prompted an insurgency in Panama.[1] The United States Navy was sent there to keep order, in light of invoking its obligations according to the treaty being signed in 1846.[1]

On 7 April, the screw sloop USS Shenandoah arrived in Panama City and three days later, other American ships started arriving in Colón, Panama. On 27 April a force of marines was landed in Panama City to help suppress rebels who had taken over the city when local troops had moved out to deal with a revolt in Colón. The next day, federal troops from Colombia arrived from Buenaventura, Colombia's nearest Pacific port. By this time, there was also a small force of the National Army of Colombia supported by a strong contingent of American troops in Colón.[2]

In response to the American intervention, Chile sent the protected cruiser Esmeralda to Panama City, arriving on April 28.[2] The Esmeralda's captain was ordered to stop by any means an eventual annexation of Panama by the United States.[3] According to a U.S. publication in August 1885, right after the Panama events, "[The Esmeralda] could destroy our whole navy, ship by ship and never be touched once."[2]

By the time the Chileans had arrived, however, the situation in Panama had been settled. The Americans withdrew from Panama City, to be occupied by the Colombian government on 30 April.[2]

What if things somehow came to a head in 1885 with the Chileans attacking or ultimatum-ing the Americans before they could get out of dodge?

.....and how did the Chilean-American naval balance look about two decades later, in late 1903 or 1904? Perhaps the Colombians could have gotten Chilean help to hold on to Panama?

[Rich Rostrom]

Post by Rob
...and how did the Chilean-American naval balance
look about two decades later, in late 1903 or 1904?
Perhaps the Colombians could have gotten Chilean
help to hold on to Panama?

By 1898, the US had a substantial modern navy, and
Chile had sold ESMERELDA to Japan.

[Rob]

Post by Rich Rostrom

Post by Rob
...and how did the Chilean-American naval balance
look about two decades later, in late 1903 or 1904?
Perhaps the Colombians could have gotten Chilean
help to hold on to Panama?

By 1898, the US had a substantial modern navy, and
Chile had sold ESMERELDA to Japan.
--
The real Velvet Revolution - and the would-be hijacker.
http://originalvelvetrevolution.com

OK - so we saw a flip in the naval superiority between Chile and the US by some point between 1886 and 1898.

[Rob]

So that dispenses with the 1903 scenario, what about the 1885 one. By the way, kind of interesting that Cile interested itself in a matter so distant as Central America.

[d***@gmail.com]

Post by Rob
Panama Crisis[edit]
In March 1885 Colombia thinned its military presence in Panama by sending troops stationed there to fight rebels in Cartagena.[1][2] These favourable conditions prompted an insurgency in Panama.[1] The United States Navy was sent there to keep order, in light of invoking its obligations according to the treaty being signed in 1846.[1]
On 7 April, the screw sloop USS Shenandoah arrived in Panama City and three days later, other American ships started arriving in Colón, Panama. On 27 April a force of marines was landed in Panama City to help suppress rebels who had taken over the city when local troops had moved out to deal with a revolt in Colón. The next day, federal troops from Colombia arrived from Buenaventura, Colombia's nearest Pacific port. By this time, there was also a small force of the National Army of Colombia supported by a strong contingent of American troops in Colón.[2]
In response to the American intervention, Chile sent the protected cruiser Esmeralda to Panama City, arriving on April 28.[2] The Esmeralda's captain was ordered to stop by any means an eventual annexation of Panama by the United States.[3] According to a U.S. publication in August 1885, right after the Panama events, "[The Esmeralda] could destroy our whole navy, ship by ship and never be touched once."[2]
By the time the Chileans had arrived, however, the situation in Panama had been settled. The Americans withdrew from Panama City, to be occupied by the Colombian government on 30 April.[2]
What if things somehow came to a head in 1885 with the Chileans attacking or ultimatum-ing the Americans before they could get out of dodge?
.....and how did the Chilean-American naval balance look about two decades later, in late 1903 or 1904? Perhaps the Colombians could have gotten Chilean help to hold on to Panama?

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This is incomplete. the US navy sailors had disembarked in Colon by the time the Chileans arrived. The Chilean sailors disembarked and went on to face the americans and threaten them to leave or otherwise. The troops balance was far superior for the Americans but nevertheless they withdrew and went back home on their 4 ships.

Chile had just defeated Peru and Bolivia together in an overwhelming manner so they were very well trained for close range battle.