El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-17

, will be cost defence camp on the Naos
: breakwater not far from the shore and
there viii be other camps scattered over
B the isthmus along the line Of the canal
The land forts will be so made that the
locks Will be amply protected, and that
any invading army could be kept away from
them in case of war. As a protection
against invasion the whole of the canal
zone is to be made a military reservation.
along the edges of Gatun lake and at the
approaches thereto is composed of swamps
lianas that it would be impossible for
troops to make their way through them
except with the ak and the saw Any one
gong over the line Of the Panama rI5i-
road can see how difficult it would he for
I an army to advance through this Jungle,
under fire, or to make any kind Of al at
tack on the locks
Big Guns to Protect Canal
IRE plans so FAR include the use II the
largest Of the disappearing guns on the
island Qualifications and also Of big guns
and mortars on the shore. At Fort Grant
which IS the general name given TO the
Qualifications on PericO. Flamenco ana NJ Os
Islands. there viii be one 16-inch gun and
six 14-inch guns besides a number of six
inch guns and howitzers The biggest Of The
guns viii carry 2 prOjectile Weighing a ron,
or as much as two horses could haul on
wagon for distance. for over 20 miles at
that they can be aimed as accurately as the
mountalneer aims when he shoots out the
eye Of a squirrel with his rifle.
The 14-inch guns will carry shells weigh
ing over 1000 pounds each and these will
fly forth from the muzzle at a speed so
rapid that II It were kept up one could go
from Washington to Philadelphia in less
than minute and clear around the world
in less than four hours It will take cL5
pounds Of powder for each charge and the
proJectiles will go through five feet of
wrought iron. There will be 20 rounds of
ammunition on hand or enough for each
gun to keep it firing steadily for two hours
provided a shot could be made every two
minutes 1t is doubtful whether this could
De done as the guns would be too hot from
Another feature Of the Notifications viii
be searchlights with reflectOrs as big arlu II
asst cart wheels. There will be Il of these
each five feet in diameter. They are being
made at a cost OF $4,000 apiece. and tho
lights thrown by them viii reach as far
as the range Of the guns Indeed. the cleo
trio lighting Of the isthmus. including the
searesnnghJs' Is one Of the wonders Of the
Great searchIights.
me searchl1ghts can be seen for from u
20 70 miles OF at sea and the range lights
VIII be from $500 to $4,000 candle mower
Inc beacons and other tights have $50 can
ole power. Each light has its own charac-
teristic and there are combinations of flash
es which will tell the canal oDeratOrs inst
where each light is on the locks fteT7-
selves Tungsten bulbs of 500 watt power
VIII be used and in the operating tunnels
there viii be numerous lights and reflectors
Ihere Will be $50 such reflectors at Gat1n
ana 11l5 at PEDRO Miguel and MirafIores-
Speaking Of the defence of the locks
recently asked Col. Goethals whether they
might not be destroyed by charges Of dv-
Mantle dropped from flying machines He
replied that the dynamite would have 70
be carefully located to do any damage and
that such a thing was impossible C5i.
Goethals says that the dynamite charger
would nave to be placed between the gate
and the lock in such a way that the man
would need to be on the ground to do it
ana that If dynamite charge were droDDed
from flying machine upon the locks or
on the lock walls it could not do much
damage: 1t would have to be placed behind
me locks to be effective. Indeed everv-
thing Of this kind has been carefully con
sioered IN the protection and fortification
OF the canal The. work is very compre-
$1,000 troops in case of war. I am told
may nay the chief experts o. our army and navy
DSlleVe that the arrangements will be am
pie to protect the canal