The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-04-07
E EDWARDS
PLANS AN ARMY Z,
FOB CANAL ZONE

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence.
Panama. March 2s.-Pians for IN,
organization OF a large and vel
trained reserve force from among tn,
natives Of the republic OF Panama arc
being considered by Brigadier General
Clarence ". Edwards. commander OF
the Panama canal troops. IL Is pro-
posed that these reserves should form
q part Of the Panama canal defense
forces and should be trained by Amer
lean officers for use In case the canal
or the republic were attacked.
General Edwards has had n brief
conference with General Esteben
Huertas. the liberator Of Panama,
who declared the plan entirely feas-
ible and promised his aid n the event
u was decided to establish such a ma
tive reserve force.
II Is said that practically all of the
natives In the interior are excellent
shots and would be perfectly willing
To serve for a short time fo- little pay
In the various instruction comps that
would be established. General Huertaa
believed thGt probably 10000 10 3O,-
600 such reservlsts could be obtained.
The native troops would be IN the
nature OF a national guard OF Panama
but would no suppiant the present
national police.
General Huertas probably would be
entrusted with the organization Of the
reserve force under the direction OF
General Edwards.
He took part Ia the bloodless revo-
luton that freed Panama from COL
ombian domination and made the
present republic OF Panama possible.
He then was In command OF the Coll
ombian troops stationed IN Panama
with which he Joined the revolution
ist4 He is a trained soldier and has
seen much military service in the var
ious revolutions that Colombia had 10
contend with before he became a
Panaman.
General Edwards has found what
he believes TO be an ideal camping
ana manoeuverins ground for his
troops near Aguadulce IN the province
Of Cocle.
Aguadulce Is the capital Of the
province and Is practically surround
ed By a gently rolling plain. almost
inclosed By low mountains. II IN
plentifully supplied with water while
fodder and %sustenance for the troops
and their pack animals may be OBJ
tanned In abundance.
His proposal to use these grounds
created much comment In Panama
city. II was rumored that this was
n preliminary step OF the United
states In taking over the republic.
This. however. was quickly dispelled
when It was made plain hat General
Edwards was DESTROYS only OF prepar-
ing defense plans for both the PAN
anna canal and the republic OF Pan
anna.
Arrangements are being made TO
bring the former large Mormon col
ony that AT one time nourished in
northern Mexico TO the province OF
Chiriqui in western Panama. Presl-
dent Porras Of Panama. has signihed
his willingness TO aid In bringing this
class % agriculturlsts to the republic.
II Is understood that the Panama
government has set aside "A large fer
tile tract In the province which will be
sold To the settlers az the lowest pos
sible price for public lands. Some OF
the lands selected will have to be
purchased from private holders but
II Is said the government has prom
ised H. aid In obtaining them al a
reasonable figure.
For some time negotiations looking
10 the bringing OF this colony To Pan
anna have been conducted by John Q.
Critchlow, a leading Mormon high In
the councils Of the church at Salt
Lake City. He has recently made a
number OF trips to the isthmus and IL
now engaged In selecting the proposed
sites for colonization in the vicinity
Of David, Ia Conception and Boquete
in western Panama.