FORTIFYING THE CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14586, 24 January 1911, Page 4

FORTIFYING THE CANAL.

In spite of domestic criticisms and foreign objections the Taft Administration has evidently, determined to have the Panama Canal effectively fortified before it is opened for traffic." The . United States Congress, like., the British; Parliament, can only prevent such action on the part of its Government by refusing to vote the money, and the whole Presidential influence is to be brought to bear upon both Senate and House to obtain the million sterling required. This fortifying of the Panama Canal does not seem in any way unreasonable, for the United States has spent an immense sum of money on the work, has paid heavily for a long'lease of the Canal zone, and could not be" expected to look on while an enemy forced its way into the' Canal, and either destroyed it or. fortified it against American ships. The conditions prevailing on the Caledonian Canal in Scotland or the Kiel Canal in Germany are . only slightly different to those which will prevail on the Panama Canal, which is in no sense an international - work, but > essentially American. The question is of. interest in Auckland, which is bound to be affected by Panama trade, and which is as concerned in 'having" the Canal secured against injury or capture as it has been in having it constructed. •