Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-16

military experts have asked themselves
tn, this cues question, and and the only possible re-
fense of the canal requires a garrison
OF troops large enough to go out from
the. Zone and repel a determined in
VaSion.
Even if the comparatively narrow
strips OF Sagana country were blocked
tS py our troops. the military men say
difhculty in advancing through the
Panamanian jungle. 1t is, for, the most
1t little. of the bamboo which makes
many of the Philippine jungles almost
impenetrable. Furthermore, when the
growth has been cleared the ground
the way, troops could advance through
this jungle at the rate of several miles
canal is really hard to defend. % it Us is
located on narrow bit of land where
neutral positions. The Government has
now. provided for 10000 troops to be
stationed at Panama by January -, |,
1916 The men who are studying the
problem say that a full division of
ABOUT $4,000 men, would be sufficient to
defend the canal in any emergency;
being relatively small, it seems false
economy to keep only half that number
on the ground when it is considered
that not only the great canal itself, but
perhaps the safety of the whole nation,
is at stake.
Troops Arriving
Meantime, the military element is
becoming more and more conspicuous
IN Panama as troop after troop arrives
on the isthmus The, frame structure
up and down the canal, which formerly
housed the men that built 1t, are now
converted into barracks. That efficient,
cock-sure. self-confdent chap,the Ameri-
dence everywhere. In the streets of
Colon and Panama City. on every boat
and railroad train, he may be met with.
enjoying his new and unique environ
ment, He has already formed dancing
clubs and baseball teams, and a sol
Panama City. The Hi" deer ana GS"'fep tapir OF Of
the Panamanian jungle find that they
have a new enemy upon their trail
The presence of the American soldier
in Panama City quickly gave rise to a
problem which has now been happily
American soldier would get into some
sort of an alteration in the street and
a Panamanian policeman would attempt
man averages only about 100 pounds
In weight. Frequentl'' the American
enlisted man would resent being taken
make prompt and effective resistance,
more policemen would come running
and likewise more soldiers, until there
by large and Interested crowd of spec
tors
Form Provost Guard
These riots figured quite largely in
Panamanian society and journalism for
some time after the soldiers began to
arrive in large, numbers. Then they
suddenly ceased. The solution was
found in the establishment of provost
guard of American soldiers. These
men were directed to arrest any soldier
guilty of disorderly conduct, and the
Panama police department was per-
suaded to leave the matter wholly in
the hands of the provost guard. When
the American enlisted man became a
bit hilarious he found himself being
arrested, very likely, by the first scar
geant of his own company. Whereupon
he not only submitted gracefully, but
was very careful how he started any
thing thereafter
In Canal Zone society. the military
element is now conspicuous, too Tropi-
cal military full dress adds an attrac-
tive touch to the fashionable affairs at
the Hotel Tivoli, and makes life still
gayer for that much sought and feted
.creature-the Canal Zone society girl.