Evening star., 1940-07-12
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Star Aviation Editor.

p PANAMA CITY, Republic of PAN
anna (by airmaiD The pulsing of
the fighting heart of great nation,
its peace and security, threatened by
world developments, can be sensed
clearly by the visitor to the Panama
Canal Zone, snow in, the throes Of
emergency military development un-
der the national defense program.
Thousands of troops have been
moved and are being moved to the
Canal Zone; the atmosphere is some
thing of that which surrounds a
great expeditionary force. Any Amer
lean who can see the troops arriving
here without feeling a great surge OF
pride in his Nation and his fellow
citizens is devoid of sentiment, in
deed. These troops have all the ap-
pearance of carefully hand-picked
men. They are corps d'elite rep
resenting all arms and services OF
our Army. They are clean-cut,
husky, alert-looking youngsters who
make splendid appearance in their
light khaki uniforms, white belts
and sun helmets.
Panama City, Colon and Cristobal
are over-run by soldiers, who are
amazingly we'll behaved amid sur
roundings which carry more than
Just suggestion of the cosmopolitan
f1esh-pots This is not due so much
to the Army and Navy military po-
lice, who are everywhere, as to the
pride these young American soldiers
seem to take in themselves and
their outfits and their sense of re-
sponsibility for the protection Of the
Panama Canal. which they rightly
regard as the most exposed and at
the same time the most vital point
In our whole defense system.
Military Police Keep Cool.
These military police are source
of neVer-ending amaZement to Wis
itor, who quickly wilt in this tropical,
humid climate. Though ordinary
mortals may perspire freshets in
clothes which look as though they
had been slept in. the military po-
lice always are crisp and cool, with
every crease razor-sharp and-mira-
Gle of miracles-not stain of per-
spiration visible. Envying visitors
have dubbed them: THE Sweatless
Wonders" The natives regard the
military police and the run of troops
on leave with an amiable cordiality
They are on excellent terms. Pana-
manians generally express gratitude
to Uncle Sam and his Army, remem-
bering the clearing up of the pesti-
lential hole which in the old days
sucked down a heavy toll of human
life. They point with pride to open
air markets in which uncovered
meat hangs without a sign of fly
Barracks and quarters are under
construction in every Army post in
the Canal Zone to house the new
troops and new bases are being
established, chief among them a.
great new Army Air Corps field at
Point Brujo, which will supplement
the existing France and Albrook
Fields, both of which are being en-
larged and improved.
Plans also are being completed
for the construction of thousands of
houses and office buildings which
will be required for the rapidly
growing army of workers on the
$277,000 900 new lock system for the
Panama Canal
Townsite Laid Out.
On the Atlantic end a large new
townsite, to be known as Margarita
has been laid out near the Mount
J. Hope waterworks. A great number
of temporary buildings also are to
/, be built at Gatun on the Atlantic
= end.
On the Pacific end new commu-
! nifty named Cocoli is to be con-
: structed west of the canal on an
! area of about 200 acres southwest of
: Miraf1ores Lake and additional
, homes are to be built at Diablo
/. Heights
: Although the new housing pro-
gram has not yet been worked out
In detail, it is estimated that more
. than $3,500,000 will be required for
this phase of the canal expansion
= program alone. Construction has