PANAMA CANAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1940, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL

ZONE PLACED ON WAR FOOTING “EMERGENCY REHEARSAL.” OR PREPARATION FOR REAL TROUBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, June 25. The Panama correspondent of the “Daily News” says the United States lias mined both entrances to the Panama Canal, has rushed its heaviest railway artillery from the Pacific to the Atlantic side, and has virtually placed the entire canal zone on a war footing. The military authorities called the manoeuvre an emergency rehearsal, but observers at the weekend believed it to be in preparation for real trouble. Guard ships took stations outside the minefields to warn approaching vessels. The Italian liner Conte Biancamano, which had entered the canal, was shifted in order to prevent' the crew and passengers from observing the mine-laying. The movements of all small craft were rigidly restricted. President Roosevelt declined to clarify the whereabouts of the United States fleet, saying that there was no news of it. The main body of the fleet left Hawaii yesterday. The hospital ship Relief and one destroyer are the only ships remaining in Lahaina Roads. These are both getting steam up, but their departure has not been announced. ENTRANCES MINED “FOR WAR GAMES ONLY.’,’ PANAMA, June 25. Brigadier-General Jacob Devers declared that both entrances of the canal were mined for war games only and there was no cause for alarm. Asked if the mines would be removed on completion of the games, he said they might be taken up and they might not.

NAVAL TRAINING ROOSEVELT’S PREPAREDNESS PLANS. WASHINGTON, June 25. President Roosevelt has announced a programme to train 5000 young naval officers annually. They would be enlisted in the naval reserve and given a month's training at sea. He said that plans were being made to put the country on a basis of preparedness unprecedented since the Great War. They include firstly a scheme to control and stamp out epidemics which usually follow great conflicts and, secondly, a plan to provide educational and health facilities in towns whose populations are increased overnight as a result of the centralisation of defence industries.