The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-16
FIRST LARGE SHIP
PASSES THROUGH
THE PANAMA CANAL
Marks Completion of Stupend-
Gus Ten-Years' Task by the
United States Government

Washington. August 15,-The COM
pletion today Of the stupendous ten
years task of the United states gov
eminent at Panama was ignored by
the administration here. The passing
Of the first large ship through the
Panama canal and the opening of the
waterway to commerce Of the world
was treated in the light Of a routine
incident.
This attitude OF the war department
WAS not indicative of Indifference @but
merely an impressive demonstration
Of the husinesslike manner lin which
the military department of the. GOV
eminent has handled all matters per
tanning to the canal. Colonel Gsoe-
that's had been authorized to put
ship through and open the canal TO
day. II was assumed that he would
obey his instructions. and that the Of
fcials here need give no more thought
to IT, When Colonel Goerhals formally
reports that he has put ship through
and that the canal is open to com
-aerce. it is probable that Secretary
Harrison will send him a message OF
conrratulation. 1t is expected that
Colonel Goethals' report will be mere
~ an incident in the daily routine
cable dispatch from him
II Is probable. however. that more
attention would have been paid at this
end TO the opening Of the canal today
were 1t not for the fact that there
IL 10 he q formal and official celebra-
ton Of the achievement next March.
An international naval pageant is to
pass through the canal with the old
battleship Oregon In the lead. Presi-
dent wilson men7b ers OF his cabinet
and large delegations from congress
and representatives from foreign coun-
tries are expected to take part It is
feared that the war in Europe will
seriously affect the opening ceremo-
MES
In view Of the situation existing In
Europe today. the opening Of the canal
is Of particular Significance. The canal
is open TO the warships Of any Of the
belligerents, as wei as TO the mer-
chantmen of all nations
The International status of the canal
is provided for in the rules set forth
in the -Pauncefote treaty of 19o1
between the United States and Great
Britain. BY the terms OF this treaty
the canal is practically neutralized and
Tree TO all nations equally. though the
rlght and responsibility OF its de-
Tense remains with the United States
II IS provided that the canal never
shall he blockaded nor shall any act
OF war be committed within ii. Yes
selS Of war of belligerent may not
revictual nor take any stores In the
canal except as may be strictly neces-
sary. and the transmission of such
vessels through the canal shall be
erected with the least possible DELAY
ReiiigeTents are also prohibited from
dlsem barking or embsrking any
troops, munitions of war or warIike
materials In The canal Other rules
In the treaty regarding the vessels of
war of beliigerent are practically
Identical with those OF The Hague
conventions and the United States neu-
trality proclamations
Great Britain. though successfully
opposing the claim of the United States
10 right to exempt American ships
from paving tolls, has conceded the
right to forttfy the canal, and accord
ingly great defenses have been erected
there. The Atlantic and Pacific ter
minals of the canal will he guarded by
batteries OF slxteen-inch guns. some
or which are in the canal zone The
ultimate scheme Of the war depart
ment for the defense of the canal Is
a $4,000, 600 project, but congress has
allotted only about one-third OF this
sum thus far, In addition to the big
coast defense guns and eighteen com
panies of coast artillery to man them
tne war department plans to have as
a permanent minimum peace garrison
on the canal zone three regiments OF
infantry, three batteries OF field artil-
lery, one squadron of cavalry, one sig
nal company. one engineer company,
one ambulance company and one field
hospital Already a regiment of in
fantry and number of coast artillery
men are at their stations on the canal
zone. The navy is expected also to
have an intimate association with the
canal now that 1t Is in operation
Other things being equal, Secretary
Daniels is TO send most. If not all. of
the Atlantic hattleship feet through
the canal next spring, and a number
Of the ships will probably spend
great deal of time on the Atlantic
coast near Panama.
For the present vessels requiring
more than thirty feet OF water through
the canal will not be able to make the
passage. but Il Is expected that the
channel will be deepened by the time
any vessels OF more than thirty feet
are ready to pass through the canal
New Pension Examiners.
The United States commissioner OF