Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-09-18
ALMOST IMPROBABLE
Canal Will Be Defended By
Greatest System OF Forti-
fication in Wsr|d.
Congress at Next Session Will Be
Asked to Appropriate Big Sum
for FOrtificatiOn of Ditch
Across the ISthmus.

Washington, D. c., Sept. 16.-Whe
the Panama Canal is completed it vii
be defended by one of the creates
| systems of fortification in the world
Yesterday an American News Servic
representative saw the sketches an
est engineerinf work of modern times
| 1t was learned that the plans for tn,
forts and other means of defense fol
the canal were carefully gone over By
Secretary of War Dickinson and Mai
or-Genera1 Bell, chief of the genera
staff of the army, during their visit
some months ago to the isthmus.
The locations on which forts will
be erected were inspected with great
care, and the general plans of the for
tiflcations for the canal discussed at
length, and from every angle.
The plans, which later were begun
by engineer officers of the army, have
been in process of formation ever
since. Congress, at the next session,
will be asked to appropriate an i'm
mense sum for the forts to protect
the big ditch. These plans are very
comprehensive, and provide for an
outlay of more than $7,500,OOO.
| discussing the Notifications and
nses for the canal a high War
artment official whose name under
army regulations cannot be dis
ed, said yesterday:
The ground was gone over 5hor-
eral Bell. The plans decided upon
the most comprehensive. OF
rse they are subject to change. In
t, several changes have already
necessary recently on account of
nges in the construction Of the ca
ITSELF
The War Department is anticiDat-
! any action which Congress may
6e in the matter of providing for
defense of the canl. There has
en- discussion of some sort of an in
irrational agreement which would
Iarantee the neutrality of the canal
such an agreement were made, of
>urse there would be no necessity
'r building defenses for the canal
he State Department and Congress
ou1d have to decide that. There is
tile doubt, however. that the United
'tates will prefer to have the canal
o protected that it will be impossi-
Dle to be successfully attacked by
hnT in Of
Congress provides money for the for
ifications special board will be ap-
pointed to have charge of the whole
natter. Of course the actual work of
beginning the work of fortificatiol is
1 long way off, but the War Depart
nent will be ready with the plans
ong before Congress provides the
money"
The plans provide for the expendi-
,ure of about $4,OOO,OOO at the Pacific
mouth of the canal, and $4,000 900 on
he Atlantic side.
The plans for the Pacific side in
elude powerful and extensive bat
,eries of 12-inch guns on four small
Stands, lying off the mouth of the ca
1al from five to ten miles. These are
Culebra, Naos and Tabago.
In addition to batteries on these
Stands the plans include forts at An
con and San Juan, respectively on
each entrance to the canal. The bat
cry at Ancon would be adjacent to
Balboa, the new name for the port to
De located near the place where the
canal will empty into the Pacific
ocean. 1t is proposed to construct
another great fort at Pedro Miguel,
six miles inland. The great locks of
he canal will be located at this point,
Ind this fort would be for their i'm
Mediate protection.
At Culebra, point about halfway
across the canal, the plans include
he establishment of a large military
post, which under the present plans
would cost 100000.