New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-25
Bv REX BEACH

-yE RODE out to Balboa TO see the
M big new drydock opened. A mar
W row dixie of earth, left by the
i-.e alone restrained the waters OF
| :. Pacific from rushing in and filling the
concrete chasm. Under this dixie
:, seven tons of dynamite had been
.,.sd and it was to witness the explosion
!, mis- charge that we had Joined the
rI from Panama and the various
canal Zone towns.
vben the whistles blew and the blast
an. We we're duly impressed. Follow
~ the conclusion a giant mushroom OF
srb rose high into the air. 1t resembled
npch the explosion of heavy projectile
u.b as was fired at the Dardanelles de-
,.Dees or at the Flanders trenches.
L was impressive, certainly, but 1t
mined in impressiveness with the thought
nat in case Of war explosive shells would
subtless rain upon this very spit; that IN
,,as Of our magnificent new s12,000,O0O
,-ts designed to guard the Panama Canal
ms,iIe warships lying safely out Of range
those forts could drop projectiles into
he basin of this drydock, smash this
ssndid first aid hospital for crippled
lmeriean ships of war and reduce our
p.nama naval base 70 a coaling station.
Asssher shot -plsHted or the Mf-afiores
ixe. short distance away, and the
sare canal would be out of commission
an s4OO. 200. 900 investment would be rem
kred useless.
It was a disquieting thought, but facts
znnot be controverted. The Canal, while
not actually defenceless, is so ill-defended
IS to be completely vulnerable.
When the United States decided to for
Fly the big ditch it was moved by three
rain considerations, vito guarantee the
Canals free and unhampered use for the
purposes for which it was built, to forge 1t
10 an important link in our chain Of ma
isnal defences and TO make of it means
q doubling the efficiency Of our navy. 10
accomplish these important results we drew
spOn the best brains Of the country, and
Ne have fondly supposed that their efforts
lowered in success. We have taken 1t
isr granted that our new Notifications,
zbOdying the last word in American mill
arr science, we're efficient.
It comes as shock, therefore, TO realize
lat We have failed in all three undertake
ags-to realize. for instance, that hos
lie warship. without scratching her paint
y risking the life Of single man, could
istroy the locks and dams Of the Canal
and increase the steanring distance from
View York 70 San Francisco nearly S,oOO
nla. Inquiry will prove the statement
% e true. Il will likewise develop other
faas no less surprising, no less fatal to
be pride and the complacency OF every
700 American.
Amazing Example of UnpreParedness
f all the startling truths uncovered by
ssstigstions Of our military and naval
'scequacy Panama offers perhaps the
-! amazing. Nowhere, 50 far as ! can
~arr, has there been more misdirected
Hagy, more shortsiRhtedness, greater
sssis In using the word waste ! have IN
ma the fact that inefficient protective
hsssures, defensive inadequacy, repre-
mt precisely that and nothing less. IL
Nastimes represents much more.
% prove that the Canal is liable 70 de-
'1sciion n an hour requires only the aid
nap and pair Of compasses.
lake. first, the Caribbean approach
'sse the geography j. more easily under
.1stabie. Note that the forts guarding
.as entrance stand astride Of Limon Bay
'+Na"'t r ioE at5D giA"@ W.
s''e>d Of running directly inland away
'oa these forts, slants sharply to the
-, Bearing in mind the fact that mod
% Fsrships carry guns that shoot 10000
sra your diyiders will show you that
s~'7n Dam IL within range Of a ship lying
' o. the mouth Of the Chagres and De
'gao NE reach Of the guns at Toro Point
ne Gs:un Dam is a tremendous struct-
10 represents tens Of millions OF
4N's. TIE patient snd ezacting toll Of
- I" ho7sands Of men for a period OF
- years. Upon it, stability hinges the
s r'a''on Of the Canal y holds at the
ath' Of sighsy~6'e les assss ssa level
'stesS Of an artiaetal lA<z 1c4 square
~ eSssrt-the largest IN the world