Evening star., 1915-11-28

II HI"o American SOiQleTS, edCIl WIN
a blue armband just above the
left elbow, swinging stout
= police club and having a regu-
lation automatic pistol strapped con-
spicuously to right thigh, are stroll
ing leisurely down Avenida Central the
main street of Panama, toward the
handsome new railway station IL is
early evening, and soon the late after
noon trains from the military camps on
the west side of the Panama canal VIII
come into the station to unload their
spick and span soldiers of Uncle sam,
intent upon q nights pleasure amid lhe
bright lights of the city. month
pay to be spent, q months thirst 10 pe
assua ged, a months ennui in the Jun
gle military camps of the Canal Zone
to be dispelled. The morrow probab bly,
viii see many of them not quite 50 splck
and span, not quite so sober ana de-
cidedIy not quite 50 much at iloerty.
The day after pay day many are 10 te
found in the guardhouse OF the nih-
tary patrol. out on Military Heights az
Balboa Canal Zone
the two soldiers strolling down the
street are members of the niil'ars pa
troll. The bands on their arms are 'he
blue bra assards. bearing the white ie'-
ters "M p" which are their oadses
of authority. They are golhs 49,
their business of looking after the coi'-
duct OF the soldier boys at play III tne
CITY. They enter the railway stati9n i,n
side BY side, for the members OF TINS
body always 90 in couples. Shouid oIg
he REQUIRED to go to the nearest patrol
station with a prisoner, the olher lt
mains to look after their joint patrol
distrirt one finds these Well set-up
soldiers in all parts of Panama Clty
and Colon during the early aaSs o.
each month, when the I,5oo Soldlers on
tba IsthnIIS of Panama receive their
,1ontbIy stipend for serving the cclors.
The rest of the month there are not SO
many OF them and hence not SO con-
spicuous,
As the two enter the portals of the
station the first of the loaded AFTER
noon trains comes into the tram shed
and several hundred eager-eyed. pleas
ure-seeking. khaki-clad figures pour
out on Avenida Central. bent upon md
ing the nearest amusement resort The
onc-horse "coches' are in active de-
nlaud, and soon a long procession of
them. with their black jamaican Co
cheros,'' is headed along the shortest
route to that section OF the town Where
the lights are brightest and the can
tinas' the most numerous.
The two Blue Brides" as the SOL
diefs affectionately call the military
patrol company. watch the disembark-
ing Of their fellow soldiers closely
Nothing escapes them. The conduct of
each one within eyesight is carefully
observed. Every soldier is given a
quick, but comprehensive once over"
to see that uniform is clean, that but
tons are in place and performing their
proper functions, that white collar is
not missing and that shoes are polish
ed. II is of the strictest orders of
the military authorities on the Canal
Zone that no soldier must come to the
cities Of Panama and Colon unless i'm
maculate. Quite frequently some of
them do not remain so. and then they
invariably fall into the hands of the
military patrol, to be later dealt with
by their company commanders.
Technically speaking, when the Amer
lean soldier, stationed on the Canal
Zone, comes to either Panama or Colon,
while still under the jurisdiction of
the military authorities, any breaches
of the peace or other offenses COM
mitted by him are dealt with by the