Dern, to-day returned from an Snspection of Panama Canal defences with a conviction that they must be Feinforeed immediately.
Mr. Dern, who spent two weeks going over' the Canal Zone with high Army officers, said that more men, more anti-aircraft gues and more aeroplanes are absolutely essential to make the defences of the canal adequate.
Mr. Dern pointed out that the eventual withdrawal of troops from the Philippines will mean the streng-theaing of the garrisons in Hawait and.on the Pacife Coast and that the "War "Department should com mence laying its plans in this con-ection at the present: time—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.