Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-06
Panama Canal is the
Key in Nations Safety
nv United Press,

.
Washington, Nov 6.-The Panama
Canal is key position in the ma.
tons defense and in development Oh
international commerce.; also 1t IS
having considerable influence in d.
vertig the people in the countries OF
northern South America and OF Cen
trail America to looking toward the
United States rather than Europe Tor
leadership in progress, says CoIonel
Jay j. Morrow, governor OF the Fan
ANA Canal Zone, in American INDUS
tries, the magazine of the National
Association of Manufacturers.
"For the trade of the west coast
of South America with Europe and
the Atlantic seaboard of the United
States, which is the bulk of the for,
eign trade Of that section, the Canal
is practically the sole passageway,"
saws Col. Morrow, For the grain,
lumber, salmon and fruits Of the
west coast of North America the Ca
nal affords easy transit to Europe as
we'll as to the Atlantic coast OF the
limited States and Canada. The traf-
fic with China, Japan and the rest OF
the Far East area, principally from
the Atlantic coast of the United
States. exceeds IN bulk that over any
other of the trade routes except the
limited States coastwise trade. These
are natural and established trade
routes. and they indicate growl2e
business of exchange in which the
United States occupies a central po-
sition of advantage.
"Whatever the future may hold IN
store as to the Importance OF ar
craft and sea power in the defense OF
| the United States, at the present
stage of military development, the
security of the country rests first on
sea power In sea fighting as on
land. the employment of effective
force means primarily the quick con
centration of masses-in General
FORESTS homely phrSce, TO git thar
| fust with the mostest men.
am the naval strategy of the Uni
ted States the Canal then is invalua>
HE 1t permits the concentration o.
virtually all the power of the navy
on either coast or at any point be-
/ tween-the Canal Zone III itself ar
| important supply and repair base
and its rapid movement over any
mart of the coastwise Of the United
| States.
"Mv comment on traffic showing
that the greater part of the traffic
! through the Canal is moving from or
to the United States, and that the
Canal is { help in our domestic ane
! foreign trade, is based on data OF
cargo shipnsiiss. In the broader
field of influence the Panama Canal
is a key position for the United
"All who pass through the Canal
or call at its terminals get frs
hand impression of American manu-
featured goods of American equip
ment and methods OF American stan
dards of living and of business. It is
| a thorough exhibit; and | am pleased
to say that it has been an eXcellent
exhibit Our Canal Zone is a little
sample of transplanted United States
as we'll as such | believe it is having
considerable influence in diverting
tn people in the countries of the west
coast, or northern South America,
and of Central America TO looking
toward the United States rather than
Europe for leadership in progress.
'In a practical way the require
ments of our quarantine service have
! brought home TO the neighboring
countries the advantages Of having
ports sufficiently sanitary to allow
ships coming from then. to escape
detention at the Canal. And these
practices Of sanitation, having been
found greatly are penetrating into
the hinterland."