Evening star., 1942-08-26
Panama Building Up
National Militia 10
Defend Republic
Force Auements Thot
Of U. S. Army Which
Guards CunuI Area
By CHANDLER DIEHL,
Wide World News.

PANAMA, Aug 26-The Republic
Of Panama, without an army since
1904 when its patriots army of in
dependence disbanded, is building
up national militia for the repub-
lies defense.
Anti-aircraft units are being
formed to combat possible air raid
ers.
A coastal vigilance corps has been
organized.
Aircraft warning networks are be-
Ing set up throughout the republic.
Businessmen are at drill, under
West Point graduates, to serve as an
officers cadre for future home guard
Gnfantry) detachments.
High school students, 1000 of
them in the capital city alone, are
marching daily under the instruc-
ton of United States military mis-
sions
The government has augmented
the United States Army's defense of
the vital Panama Canal and the
Canal Zone, with a Panamanian
national militia that can aid in de-
fense of purely Panamanian objec-
tives.
Ordinarily these defense tasks
would fall to the national police, a
body of some 5000 trained infantry
men and cavalrymen, which long
has doubled in both army and po-
lice duties. Wartime police tasks,
however, are manifold these days
and so Panama has turned to re-
cruitment of volunteer national
militia in move to bolster defenses.
Many Enlisted In Militia.
Under presidential decree, govern
ment employees are subject to call at
any time for defense duties. and
many of these, particularly en-
ployes of the Department of Edu-
cation, are enlisted in militia ranks.
Since the national emergency,
Panama has looked about with the
aim of strengthening its civilian de-
lenses and auxiliary services" Min
lister of Education Victor F.. Goytia
explains.
Reorganization of much of this
defense setup has been placed under
the Ministry of Education. The
school system will be not only the
cultural pillar of our way of life
but will, as well, serve as the means
by which our youth may be trained
IN military methods to protect It.
self now and in the future.
Every Panamanian on gradual
Ing from high school will have, on
the one hand, his high school de-
gree, and on the other, his certifi-
cate showing he has completed six
years Of military training-three in
primary school and three in Sec
ondary school,"
Primary school training consists
Of program similar to that of Bow
Scouts in the United States. Sec
ondary training follows closely the
United States high school ROTC
pattern.
Teachers Play Big Role.
The coastal vigilance service is
manned principally by teachers and
students OF all the public. schools
Of Panamanian towns and hamlets
along the Atlantic and Pacific, and
is still, in large part, in process Of
organization.
Women play their part in the
program in forming frst-aid groups.
Some $500 women and girls-headed
by school teachers-already have
completed two-months training
course.
In addition, Panama is organiz-
Ing a home guard of volunteers
business and professional men, and
youths-with instruction now under
way which is designed to establish
a nucleus of trained officer per-
sonnel.
1t is a large-scah program that
Panama has planned. AS vet it Is
in Its early stages, involves only
small numbers of citizens. But it
has potentialities and the Pana-
manian volunteers participating
show an enthusiasm that seems
likely to result in establishment of
reliable defense corps.