The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-05-02

mat the worst must have happened.
On reaching Mindi, Benning got
a speeder to take him to Cristobal.
he got military car to spin him
to Col. Cove. Reports were coming
In to Naval Intelligence. The dam
age at Gatun Locks was undeter-
mined. Mirafiores Locks had been
dynamited by an American steamer
that had put in past Balboa from
San Francisco. Dynamite had cas-
caded huge slides of rock and earth
into Culebra Cut in the region of
Gold Hill. Alhajuela Dam, at the
storage lake on the upper Chagres,
had been crippled.
When he reached Panama Depart
ment headquarters, Benning found
Cove feverishly taking reports from
half dozen assistants whose ears
were glued to telephones.
Whats the latest information on
damage to the Canal, Colonel?" Ben
ming inquired.
Cove tragically shook his head.
Pretty bad from all reports. My
men make the guess it will take
months to make any kind ofrepairs.
Benning asked, May 1 get code
message through to Washington to-
night, Colonel?''
The wires are swamped," Cove
said obviously. 1.-THE War Depart
ment is pounding the C.G. for all
details of the attack on the Canal.
III sandwich your dispatch in at
the very first chance"
Benning borrowed the Department
code book and prepared a brief re-
port of eventualities for Colonel
Flagwill. Reports from over the
Canal Zone kept pouring in. Sus-
poets were being arrested in grow
ing numbers.
1t was after A. M before Cove
was able to put Benning's report on
the wires. He offered Benning a cot
In a nearby office and sent Grimes
to the barracks. Benning fretted
himself to sleep at dawn and woke
to hot sun. Cove was standing
over him, tense with excitement.
Ibid any of our fleet get through
from the Pacific YETI" Benning in
quired.
The question brought an agonized
grimace from the CO chief.
part of our Pacific fleet was due
through the Canal next week, Ben
ming. Now check this over for your
self. In the Atlantic, four old bat
tleships, few destroyer divisions,
and some submarines. Proud names
those battleships-New York-Ar-
kansas - Texas - Wyoming. But
they've seen their day for fighting
purposes, and it'll take weeks to
get some squadrons of our Pacific
fleet around the Horn"
while the matter is in my mind"
Benning changed the subject, 81
want to know if you'll enlist for me
a man named Grimes. He was
turned down in New York for flat
feet, but otherwise he's really a fine
physical specimen. I'm under OBJ
legations to him, since there wouldn't
be finger-nail left of me except for
Grimes"
"Glad to fix him up" Cove agreed
promptly.
The morning summary came in
over the wires from the United
States. President Tannard was clos
eted with Army and Navy chiefs.
The country was in a fresh panic
over destruction of the Canal. East
ern centers of population were in an
uproar, demanding naval protection
for the Atlantic coast. War census
of males of military age was insti-
tuted. First draft of a million men
was being planned. Volunteer en-
listments, after passing the 400, 900
mark, had slowed down. Another
thirty days needed to fill volunteer
quota of 100000.
On the Texas front the Third
Army had finally halted Van Has
sek's advance after five days of des-
perate fighting in which American
casualties we're estimated at twelve
thousand men.
An aide-de-camp came into the
room and spoke to Cove. Cove
jumped to his feet and went over
to Benning.
1.-THE commanding general wishes
you to report to him Immediately, /"
he said.
Benning followed the aide to a spa
cious Office at one end of which a
grave, weary little man sat over a
litter of reports and complications.
AS the aide announced Benning, the
general looked sharply up and de-
livered himself in a crisp, official
voice.
II have instructions from the War
Department, Major, to drop you into
Mexico City. Colonel Flagwill
wishes you to find out what you can
about the enemy's Guaymas troops
and the trouble in the Orient You
are to report to Flagwin as quickly
as possible. Arrangements will be
made for plane to pick you up at
q point designated by you in the vi
cinity Of Mexico City. Your plane
will take off from Albright Field in
one hour That is all -