The sun., 1908-01-23
WHYCANALhOCKSWEREMOVED
40 GET THEM OUT OF HOSTILE
GUNS LANCE.

Col. GOethals says Changes NJ Panama
We're Based ON Military Considerations
Thinks the Railroad Line WIN Have
20 he Changed for the Same Reason.
WASHINGTON Jan. 22.-Col. George W.
Goethals, chairman OF the Panama Canal
Commission, declared in his testimony be-
fore the Senate Committee on Interoceanio
Canals to-day that the building Of the canal
was a military necessity. He had been
explaining TO the commission the reason
for removing the location Of the western
locks from Sosa, where they had been
originally planned, to the site at Mirafores,
four miles further back
The chief consideration was a military
one" said the chairman Il have not
heretofore emphasized the military feature
OF the construction because we are military
men, and there is a disposition to critiCise
Us on the part Of civilians. But the fact is
as the locks at Sosa were originally pro-
jected they extended into the Pacific Ocean.
The lower lock Of the flight would have been
entirely in the ocean and the upper one
would have been partly SO. Within four
miles Of the location was a basin Of deep
water in which a fleet of hostile ships could
have anchored and bombarded the locks.
destroying them easily"
does the eight miles distance at which
you now propose to locate them at Mira
flores afford the necessary protection
against the bombardInent Of modern guns?"
inquired Senator Taliaferro.
i believe 1t does" replied Chairman
Goethals. "A city might be successfully
bombarded at a distance Of ight miles, but
l do not believe a single object like a canal
lock could be. OF course there are those
who do not agree with my view. In making
hfa uNa 4 N,lrz
portant consideration Of the waste Of am
munition 1t would entail, which would
be very important consideration with any
feet that would be likely to attempt to
lombard, on account of the great distance
it would necessarily be from its base Of sup
plies
How far is the Gatun lock located from
the Pacifc?"
1T is about seven miles from deep water
and is therefore that distance removed.
In my opinion. from the danger Of a bonn
bRrdment, was the reply Of Col. Goethals.
Col. Goethals said also that while he had
hesitated to say so before il was his opinion
that the relocation Of the line OF the Panama
Railroad was also a military necessity,
necessary as measure Of patrol and
constant guard over the canal.
Il have no doubt" said he, that after
the canal is completed a military garrison
will be stationed at either end Of the canal
constantly
40 u pOsSibAo " BuaLu GAo iOOhS VI tHO
canal to prevent dynaniting by a spy from
a hostile enemy?" inquired Senator Bran
degee.
NO man could carry enough dynamite
on his person to do much damage" re-
piled Col Goethals. Il have no doubt that
precautions will be taken TO prevent the
approach Of any suspicious person near
the locks. An explosion of a small amount
Of dynamite would not do much damage.
The greatest danger would lie in the possi-
bility of destroying the sluice gates and
letting the water out Of Gatun Lake, but
generally think such danger ia minimiZed
by the certainty that the canal will be con-
stanty under military guard and the
Panama Railroad will also guard it at all
times