The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-06-24
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forts the Pacific side and attempts work it's way
through the canal it will with hot reception
Pedro Miguel where strong Notifications will protect
the first principal lock- These batteries will be sit
uated that they will be able to sweep the canal and
the ships perforce will have proceed the
single ile fleet would be at the mercy of their
guns.
On the Atlantic side of the isthmus the problem of
fortifyng the coast is comparatively simple The
ranges of steep Hills that rise practically from the shore
line lend themselves the construction of batteries
that will be able to sweep the adjacent The bat
eries will be planted high enough up the side of
these hills that they will be able outshoot the
guns of the biggest batteshps and them before
they get within range. 1t is possible that there
will be aseries of these batteries but all of likely
will be planted Point Toro This plan may be
changed however that secondary batteries will be
built the Colon side of the canal and, possibly
supporting battery back in the hills from the coast to
the actual approach the big ditch.
Like the Notifications the Pacific side the princi
pal batteries the Atlantic will mount both t4-inch
guns Pinch There will be support ng
teres naturally but the location of these will not be
determined until the position of the de-
cided
In addition to the batteries and forts there is to be
constructed Culebra central military station in
which will be kept stores and troops and artil
lerymen The station will be so situated that addi.
tiona artlerists supporting troops be hurried
to whichever coast attacked The barracks and store
houses will be of the most modern type and will be
protected by complete battery, although of the
big guns will be mounted there
The Department has determined that every mod
appliance of warfare will be installed the
isthmus If Congress be induced approve the plan
for fortifyng the canal half dozen electric power
plants will be constructed with view to keeping them
of the range of the guns of enemy and these
will supply the for the operation of
what intended to be the most powerful searchlights
in the world.
The arrangement is to be such that if one or two
three plants disabled the searchghts still will
sufficient voltage to fling their out to the
and pick up any enemy that may be seeking to rush
the defenses of the canal under of night These
power plants also will furnish the with which to
operate hoiss and other appliances in the
furnish light for the gun
The plans for a complete defense of the canal of
course include system OF submarine mines. These
will be both contact and shore controlled The latter
class will be charted and their position known the
operator the Notifications. Whenever hostile
ship of the squares in which the deathdeal
ing explosive turks will be discharged by electric
spark sent from the shore
All these plans has been stated depend for their
fulfment entirely the will of Congress- Congress
willing the canal will be fortified in a fashion that
will make it almost impregnable Gibraltar. The
United States will maintain complete sovereignty
the waterway it will build and this government will
integrity of the great work that begun by the
French and destined to he completed by the
people.