The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-01-09

Conditions in the Canal Zone at the
present time are better than ever be-
fore for men in the United States
Army. All the Coast Artillery stations
are modern, we'll equipped and sani-
tary in every respect. In the early
part of 1920 two new infantry posts,
up-to-date in every respect as the
present Coast Artillery posts, will be
ready for occupation. All posts are
within easy travelling distance of each
ether since it is only fifty miles from
one end of the Department to the. 9TH
or, making intercourse between the
various posts convenient. The Coas.
Artillery posts, of which there are
three on the Atlantic side and one on
the Pacific side, are within easy reach
OF the larger towns and have the add
ed advantage of being on the seashore
where 1t is cool and where sea bath
ing is one of the principal recreations.
! The interior posts which are occupied
by infantry, field artillery, cavalry,
engineers and signal corps are all on
the Panama railroad and right on the
edge of the Canal
Every post in the Department is at
4 present equipped with recreation
tuilding, supplied by the Y. M. C. A..
except in the case of Fort Amador,
which has at its disposal the Army
and Navy Y. M G.. A. of BALBOA
These Y. M. G. A. buildings are
equipped with pool and billiard tables
bowling alleys, basket ball courts and
indoor games of all kinds, reading
and writing rooms and lunch rooms
Dances for enlisted men are frequent
~ held in all of these buildings and
! there is never night when there is
not entertainment Of some sort for
the soldier. This entertainment con-
sists Of moving pictures, basket ball
games, vaudeville and musical enter
taihment. The posts which are re-.
moved from the seashore are equipped
with swimming pools which are a
source Of great comfort and amuse-
ment to the enlisted men of the post
In the most of the posts of the de-
partment the Y. NJ G. A. has contro,
OF the movies. Performances are Civ
en- free of charge. In othe, posts
where movies are controlled by the
fost Exchange, small charge of ten
or fifteen cents is made for admit
lance. The pictures displayed at these
shows are up to date and the, contract
demands that no picture be shown
that is over six months old. The Y.
M. c. A. has been giving at various
times free entertainment at all of the
posts which consists of good vaude-
vile acts brought from the Keith cir
cult in the United States.
! Adjacent to the Department are the
jungles Of Panama which abound In
all kinds Of vegetable and ANNA!
life for those who are interested in
this sort Of thing. The jungles are
full OF all kinds of game and hunting
passes for ten days are given to all
men who desire to take advantage OF
this privilege. The hunter can obtain
in this country tapir, deer, duck and
numerous other game. The waters
surrounding the Canal abound in all
kinds of fish, ranging in size from
man eating sharks to the palatable
Bonita fish. Many of the soldiers
spend their week-ends and holidays in
taking advantage of the fishing and
the nuntlng privileges.
| A baseball league, consisting OF
eight teams, has been organized on
the Isthmus and the season runs from
! December to April of each year. Each
post in the department has a team In
this league as well as the larger
towns of the Canal Zone. Field meets
are frequently held in conjunction
with the schedule of training in each
post in which all men of the post are
eligible to compete for prizes. On hol-
idays, special field meets are held on
the Isthmus in which soldier and
civilian athletes compete. The prizes
in the latter usually consist of gold
silver and bronze medals issued for
all track and field events as well a.
for swimming events.
All persons living in the Cana
Zone are government employees, either
civilian, army or navy, and nothing
but government buildings and govern
ment enterprises are authorized. The
Panama railroad has eommissaries In
each of the larger towns where SOL
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