The Washington times., 1902-07-16
Army Engineers Awal :
ing Presidents D:rec-
tons to Start.
SYSTEM TO BE FORMULATED
No Scheme Has as Yet Been Devised for
Protecting the Proposed Waterway
Active Advance Work on the Part of
the Navy-Plans in Detail.

The army engineers are waiting for
authority from President Roosevelt to
formulate system OF d-fenSes for the
proposed isthmian canal. Up to this
time practically no plans have Leen de-
vised by the engineers fer fortifyirg The
waterway.
These who viii have charge of the en-
gineering features OF the defcnses eZ-
plain tkat the Government has not yet
determined how hberally it may inter
pref that section OF the Fay -Faunccfote
treaty relating to the defense CT the
canal, ard that when this point has been
settled it Will be time enough for the
engineers 10 prepare the iorti!icatioA
plans They say there will be ample time
to build the defenses after the canal is
well underway. declaring they could be
completed within Two yeags fron the
time they were author zed.
Navy on the Alert.
as compared TO the apparent lack of
interest displayed by the War Depart
ment to this subject, the navy has pro
cccded on lie assumption that it VIII oe
required. in part. TO defend the water
way IN event of war. and IS prepared
now to carry out a plan which requires
only cession of territory to render IL
practicable. For some time the Navy De
partment has been urging upon the State
Department reasons why sites should be
Immediately acquired for coaling sta
tions, v I shall actually be powerfully
defendoG ..aval posts.
The acquisition of these sites. naval
ofiici; = say, should be coincident with
the construction of the canal, if not be-
fore tie work begins. 1t has been repre-
sented to the President tnat in the ne
gotiaiion of a treaty with Colombia pro-
vision should be made for securing enc
desirable site each en- the Pacific arc
the : luntic fer the use of the navy.
and il Is fails the United States should
negotiate separate treaty to acquire
the Lands.
Article 3. section 3. of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty, in rart provides as follows
The canal shall never be blockaded
nor shall any right of war be exercised
nor any act of hostility be committed
within "a. The United States, however,
shall be a. liberty to maintain such mil
itary police along the canal IS may be
necessary to protect it against lawless
ness and disorder.
Veru E"n-r>, J,b bla
This provision will be construed to
mean that the United States is at lib
erty 10 adopt any course it deems best
TO insure the protection of the canal.
at either end or along the route, from
disorder or attack. In fact. it may he
stated on excellent authority that when
the canal is built this Government will
be prepared to defend it against any
enemy.
The army will not be the sole pro-
lection the canal will have. 1t will be
a part of the navy's duty to safeguard
the canal at its two ends. There are
strong strategic reasons in favor of the
duties deyolving upon both services.
While the isthmian canal must be
free to the ships OF all nations except
any that may be at war with the United
States, the Suez Canal must be free at
all times to all nations.
The navy has been proceeding on the
theory that canal would be cut across
the isthmus and that when 1t is com
pleted the service would require coaling
stations at both ends.
SURVEYS of Harbors.
The navy is thoroughly informed on
the strategic advantages 10 be had from
the acquisition OF certain sites and has
located these and made extensive sur
veys for harbcrs. 1t desires Chirique
lagoon in Almirante Bay. Colombia. on
the eastern side, and an island in PAN
anna Bay at the west entrance to the
proposed Panama route. To secure these
sites treaties would have to be neSo-
tiated with Colombia.
Coal piles. it is said by Admiral r. 3.
Bradford. TO be of value must be on SOW
ereign territory. and the only way this
Government can secure concessions from
Colombia is through treaty 1t is rep
resented by The Navy Department that
provision should now be made for Sc
curing these sites. lest with the com
pletion OF the canal the Colombian gov
ernment might decline to cede the ter
ritory.
Pressure from foreign governments,
II is urged, might influence Colombia TO
refuse the United States sites for coal
ing stations which might be used TO the
Disadvantage of some power in time Of
war. without the eastern site the near
est base for the navy would he al the
extreme western end of Cuba where tho
navy expects to acquire coaling sta
tion.
coaI INC cThTInMc AT