Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-18
First Torpedo FIotiIIa Already
There-TweIve 'Wasps of War
Ordered for Aerial Work,
OVER AND UNDER THE SEA
S375,OOO,00O Ditch" Will Be
ImpenetrabIe to All Possible
Foreign Attack.
By SIDNEY ESPEY.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17-Much
has been written concerning he
need Of Qualifications for the Pana-
ma Canal on the part OF the army
and the Coast Artillery Corps, but
comparatively H,tlc attention has
been paid to the fact that the Navy
Department also is 10 take its share
ia protecting the big ditch"
News pers through the land car
ried a three-line item about mon! h
ago TO the effect that the first sub
marine hQtilla had arrived at Pana-
ma from Guantanamo. Few persons
who read that item realized that this
was the first step taken by Tncic
sam toward protecting the canal, and
certifying It by sea and by land.
The movement OF the torpedo no
tina was not attended by the pom1
and ceremony which greeted. the de-
parture Of the fleet on it's Europeln
cruise last fall. but II had a much
deeper significance than tha' tour Of
peace and prosperity for Uncle Sam
navy. The movement showed that.
having practically completed the
canal, the United States now is pre-
pairing to hold It against all corners
because in time OF war possession of
the canal would mean much to an
enemy Of this country
Five Boats in All.
The first torpedo flOtiila, consisting
OF Al, CO, ca. ca and CO. reach
ed Panama from Guantanamo lag
month after an exceptional trip. or
hcers on board the ozark, the tender
which "mothered" the submarines
during their journey, tell me that the
manner in which the little fighting
MI
their freedom from accident OF any
kind on the trip was truly remark
able.
What is considered more wonder
ful IL the fact that the submarines
finished this trip, two or three times
longer than any continuous trip they
were ever designed TO undertake. with
their fuel tanks more than half fun
and entirely capable OF making the
return Trip TO Guantanamo at once.
To Guard West Entrance.
Once they reached Panama. the
submarines were stationed Just off
the Atlantic entrance to the canal
where they will remain until after
the formal opening and number OF
commercial ships have tested out the
facilities Of the big ditch 1t Is then
planned to send this notilla through
The canal and maintain them on the
Pacific side to guard that entrance
Another fiotilla of the "wasps of the
sea Will be moved down from some
more northern point and maintained
~ Panama to guard the Atlantic en-
trance N The canal
But It Is not alone upon the land
the sea and under the sea that the
nited States is relying on its forti-
ncations for protecting the most i'm
portant commercial waterway ever
constructed
Aeroplanes To Be Used.
IL Is preparing to repulse invaders
oy means Of aeroplanes also The
navy now has contracts for a dozen
OF what Secretary Daniels calls
'wasps of war" which il intends to
maintain on the Isthmus and hold
ready for scouting and defensive work
In the air. The aeroplaues and hydro
aeroplanes Will be equipped with ey-
cry modern appliance and all will
carry wireless outfits which win en-
able them to signal their information
To those telow at the exact moment
they obtain ii. Thus 1t is that, even
were an aeroplane destroyed FIVE min
utes after 1t spotted the enemy. Il
would have rendered an Invaluable
service in determining the exact po-
sition OF the attacking feet and in
informing those below of the range
and direction Of the attack
BY means OF his immense land bat
terles, his magnificent fleet, his sturdy
hotillas Of submarines and his air
fleet of aeroplanes, Uncle Sam there
fore viii have cause To feel that the
canal which he constructed at a cost
~ 1878 000 600 will he we'll guarded
from any possible foreign attack.