PANAMA CANAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 48, Issue 2863, 15 November 1939, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL

TROOP MOVEMENTS VITAL LINK ■ IMPREGNABLE The Army’s quick moves to safeguard the Panama, Canal have made the waterway the most heavily defended American military position with the possible exception of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu (says a message from Washington). Anti-aircraft troops loaded on the transport St. Mihiel at New York recently, and others already dispatched or under orders to leave shortly will swell the Canal Zone garrison to more than 18,500’ officers and men, exclusive of naval and marine forces.

Several thousand others are destined to reinforce the defenders still further. Because of the European war crisis, the movements were advanced several months, with the result that the bulk of the arriving troops will have to sleep in tents until barracks are ready,-'officials said.

The troop movement to Panama and to the new outpost on Puerto Rico, the placing of the Canal under martial law., the dispatch of 31 additional army fighting planes’ and other rapid-fire measures all gave evidence of intent to make impregnable quickly the vital link between the Atlantic and the 'Pacific.

In numbers at present, Oahu still has more troops, but the Panama garrison within a few months will be stronger than the Pacific outpost. There were 21,7'77 army officers and men in Hawaii on June 30.

The Army does not stress actual figures, but made public Hawaii and Panama strength at the end of the fiscal year at the direction of Congress. There were 14,94'2.' officers and men in the Canal Zone then, and some 3'600' others have been ordered here in lecss than three weeks.

■Congress provided 27,000,00'0' dollars last session to strengthen the Canal garrison by 2'72 officers and 7360 men, but under original plans, the reinforcements would not have started until months hence. The first actual recruiting was scheduled for next February.

They are needed, officials testified, to man long-range coast artillery rifles and new anti-aircraft guns which already were mounted but did not have full crews.

The first troop movements, in transports sailing from New York and earlier from San Pedro, California, included 1,0-89 officers and men, all from coast artillery antiaircraft regiments. Another transport sailing is scheduled from New York shortly. The movement of about 2,500 troops of the 18th. Infantry Brigade from 'New England posts is to start on October 19.