PANAMA CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14109, 10 July 1909, Page 5 (Supplement)

PANAMA CANAL.

HUGE DEFENCE SCHEME.

According to the Washington correspondent of the New York Times, fortifications costing £1,400,000 are to be built to defend the Panama Canal, the most powerful arid elaborate batteries being planted to repel attacks from the Pacific Ocean. Lying off the mouth of the canal are 15 islands, and three of these which have been selected for fortifications are between • 10. and 15 miles off the shore. They, are Flamenco, Culebra, and Naoas Island. On the coastline of each side of tho canal mouth will be batteries situated at Ancon and San Juan. The estimated cost of these fortifications without equipment is £700,000.

Six miles up the canal from the Pacific Ocean there is - to be a secondary battery. This will command the , principal lock at Pedro Miguel, and the estimated cost will be £100,000. At Culebra, about the middle of the canal, a military . post will be ; constructed at an expenditure of £50,000. ;

On the Atlantic side the arrangement will be| much more simple.; ■:■ A range of hill -runs down to the sea, commanding the entrance to the canal. Upon them, at El Boco Point, modern lotterieswill'be constructed at a cost of £500,000. It is proposed to mount in these fortifications more than 60 of the highest power disappearing ; guns. None of these will 'i. be •of ■■ less % than, lain calibre, and they will run as high as loin : in the main batteries.