The Mena weekly star., 1910-09-22
ID F0RT|FY CANAL
PRESIDENT TAFT TO RECoM- MEND A s2,ooo,ooo APPRoPRl-
 ATloN FOR PURPOSE.
10 RUSH NAVAL BASt PLANS
Moves Are Part of General Policy for Protecting the Panama CanaI- Rapid Progress Being Made on Big Waterway.

Beverly, Sept. 20.-The Panama canal will be fortified. President Taft. it was learned here will recommend to congress when it reconvenes in De- cember that at least S2,000, ,000 be ap- propriated to begin the work of forti- f1cation without delay
 At the same time none of the econo- my plans of the administration will be permitted to interfere with the established naval program of two bat tleships year.
 The Naval Base Also.
 Finally plans will pushed on the big naval base a Guantanamo, in luther. ance of which Secretary of the Navy Meyer will visit Cuban waters within a month.
 These important moves are all part of a general policy that is being evolved around the great waterway. They are not to be interpreted as war like; but rather as diplomatic moves on the part of the United States to conserve the worlds peace. At the same time, in as much as the war strategists are all agreed that the fu- ure battles in which the United States will participate, if any, will be fought in the neighborhood of the Panama canal" The administration will neg lect no opportunity to safe guard that great national undertaking.
 Progress on Canal Rapid.
 Progress on the waterway is going forward rapidly. The time has come If it is to be fortified at all that the work must commence. Foundations must be laid, the concrete work erect ed and the gun platforms from which the big disappearing guns and bat teries are to be operated must be placed.
 Il is the view of the president that this is one of the most important tasks that his administration faces just now and he will urge congress without further delay to authorize work on the fortification to proceed
 As planned, 1t is contemplated, not on-y tc place big guns at the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the canal under what the president regards ample authority under the -Pauncefote treaty. but to fortify as we'll the group If islands that guard the Pacific out let just off the main land. With this formidable battery erected the guar dian of the canal will then have a sweep of Is miles to the Eastward and Southward on the Atlantic side, and perhaps a sweep of 20 miles in all directions with the guns on the Pacific side
 To Control the Pacific.
 The construction of strong naval base at Guantanamo naturally follows as a complement to this plan. The in- terests of the United States in the Southern Pacific are growing stronger every day and with the completion of the canal will demand all possible safeguarding. It Is the plan to con struct at the Cuban port complete plant where repairs, supplies and all the needs of the fleet may be quickly met. With this base and the fortifica- tions at Panama and the naval con struction program maintained on a basis of two new ships year, the United States will always be in position to contest the supremacy of the Pacific with all who may dispute this nations rights.
 It Is becoming more doubtful every day if the president will make his pro posed visit to Panama this year. I'm portant work Is piling up and will re- quire all of his attention between now and the meeting of congress.