Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-01
IS ZONE OF DANGER
DEFENSE OF PANAMA CANAL is
NOW MATTER OF CONCERN
IN WASHINGTON.
LARGE ARMY NEEDED THERE
Heavier Guns Also May Be Required
Authorities Recognize Treaties I'D
international Laws Would Not Pro-
tect the lsthmian Waterway.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

| has been said about the needs of Pan
ANA canal defense than about any 9th.
er one salient subject II is perhaps
| likely that the authorities do not care
| to discuss openly the safeties or the
dangers in the case of the waterway
provided war should come. The canal,
however, is a vital spot to strike at
and its defense is a matter of con-
Germ to the war department and pre-
sumably to congress.
The war department. has been get
ting the finalities of information con-
corning the military needs of the
Canal Zone from Brig. Gen. Clarence
r. Edwards, who commands the Amer
lean forces on the isthmus.
The war ia Europe has proved that
some things which were believed con-
corning the immunity of the Panama
canal from danger are no longer to
be heard. The appearance on ship
board of such guns as that used on
board the Queen Elizabeth of the Brit
ish navy and the certainty that even
bigger weapons are to be put on the
warships of the future. have changed
somewhat the plans for the future
safeguarding of our isthmian zone.
which now perhaps may be called a
zone of danger
Some four or five years ago it was
said that 10000 troops must be sta
toned at all times within the limits
of the American Jurisdiction on the
linus. II was intimated recently
that army authorities thought $4,000
troops at least would be needed in
the zone, and now comes General Ed
wards, who has been looking over the
situation for about eighteen months.
to add his word of positive assurance
that nothing less than the number of
troops last named will be adequate to
serve some possible purpose of the
future.
Treaties Are Poor Protection.
Before the war broke out over the
water there were army men ready to
say that no nation with which the
United States was at war would at
tempt to destroy the Panama canal
1t was said that attemI might be
made to put lock out OF commission,
or TO blow up a retaining wall, but
that no civilized nation, even during
the spur OF war with the United
States. would attempt to damage the
canal so as to put it out of commits
sion for years.
The understandings which exist
amongs nations concerning the use Of
the canal. It was supposed two years
ago. would De all-suficient to prevent
the Zoe from doing anything more
than attempting temporary, to make
the canal useless. In view of the
treaty breaking and the disregard OF
the laws of civilized warfare which
have marked the contest abroad It
now seems to be the belief of military
authorities that not only would at
tempts be made TO destroy the canal
In case the United States were at war
with a foreign power. but that the
same course might be pursued oy
some nation at war with another ma
tioA not the United States. The
thought is that IL one country thought
another country was going to be able
% use the waterway for its own pur.
poses 1t might send an airship to drop
bombs on lock
May Need Bigger Guns.
The main defenses of our Isthmian
waterway today are the Notifications
Just OF the northern and the southern
entrances. If plans are carried
through these fortiLeatic. ultimately
viii be supplied with guns heavy
enough to prevent any forcing of the
approaches by ships OF war. 1t may
be and perhaps is true that the guns
which are there todsy. or will be there
within a very short time, are formid.
able enough to meet proper cefense
conditions. But r the navies of other
nations continue to increase the size
OF the guns hich they carry it Is
recognized that the Cnited States
must keep pace with the advance and
see to IL that its guns Il the Panama
forts are as big as they ought % be.
does .ot take $4,000 men to man
tho heavy gun Notifications, which
guard the isthmian approaches. The
chef 6snger to the canal is not from
ssa attick on the forts whici. guard
tho entrances. II our navy should be
knocked out By an enemy which de-
sired the destruction of the canal. the
coup would be accomplished by land.
ing a fotce under cover OF the guns
OF the enemy ships at some distance
from the canal. Then the overland
attack would be made.
Inland fortihcations for land bat
teries have h,~.. constructed 1T prop
er prces in the Canal Zone Every
thing that can be done with the
r-onev at hand has been done TO make
the place safe. There has not been
money enough nor have there been
men enough thus far allotted to put
the defense plan on the plane which
II is said II should occupy
Annapolis story Exaggerated.
Within a few days a message has
flashed through the country to the eff
ieot that 220 midshipmen at the
nsva' academy have been found
encient in their studies and probably
~ be dismissed from the service.
The Devit'S Bible,