1HE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 5, 1919.
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BT F. A. COLLINS.
XCLE SAM la building a Glbral
tar of the air to defend the
Panama canaL In the event of
'War with any foreign power tbe canal
would, of course, be a most vulner
able point. When the treat water
way wai designed and built tbe pos
sibility of attack by air forces was
scarcely thought of. or at least ap
peared to bo a' danger of the very
remote future. The amazing advance
of aeronautics during: tbe lata war
has completely transformed the situ
ation. Without adequate sir defense
the canal would be at the mercy of
tbe enemy. The fortification con--Slructed
to. defend the-caaal contain
some of the heaviest artillery In the
world, but these would be powerless
against a well-directed air force.
The government has been quick to
realize the necessity of adequate air
defense. Within a few days 27 scout
planes were shipped to the Isthmus.
Tbe station designed for the air
fieet of the Panama canal Is one of
the most elaborate In tbe world. It
will ultimately rank among; similar
air stations much as Gibraltar ranks
among the world's, sea fortifications
or as Heligoland before Its demolition.
The great air station now in course
of construction Is known as France
field, being named for Lieutenant
France, who lost his life there in
Way. 1118. Although the field ' haa
been in existence only since April.
Hll. is doubtless destined to be one
of the most famous in the world.
. Strafrary mt -Fraae "Tlrld."
France field Is, situated on theAt
lantlc side of the isthmus, although
it la designed to protect both ends
of the famous waterway. The location
was chosen because the form of the
coast line at this point Is Ideal for
the purpose. The canal, aa all the
world knows. Is only 40 ..miles In
length. The fleets of air craft could
fly from one end of the canal to the
other in less than half an hour, thus
iraklng a surprise attack from either
side practically Impossible. If an
attacking fleet were to sail foe Amer
ico either from Europe or. Asia there
would, of course, be ample time to
mobilize air forces on either side of
the Isthmus.
The Panama canal makes It possible
for the United States to shift Its f leet
waifc. . . ,-.,.A.ifc..y-t-aui. ' ' 1 . - .
The NC-4 Type Will Be the Air Dreadnought Used in the Larger Operations in the Canal Zone. ' . " i.
o6' C f? S -SI
Diverting His "J'fx Jrt
to New Plans - T"" S5 V 4h ' rJVv' Lr f
j--??iScr' . " . .. .. .... riii'y' akd approaches . : ,
ffoix; Uncle Sam Is
A.ir Craft Strength
for the Defense of the Panama
Canal How the Canal Might Be
Injured or At
tacked, and How
the System of
Defense Will
Organized.
Be
The Flying Boat Designed for Scooting Service at the CanaL
from' the' Atlantic to the Pacific
ocean or the other way about on
very short notice, which gives an
immense advantage over an enemy.
Before an Invading army could be
landed on American soil It would
aouDtiess De necessary to overcome
the resistance of Uncle Sam's navy.
Within the time it would require an
Hacking fleet to cross the ocean the
forces on both sides of the continent
could thus be combined by employ
ing the convenient short cut afforded
by the canaL
Tbe vital importance of keeping the
canal open and under American con
trol In case of war is, ' of course.
obvious. The enemy would recognize-
this fact and doubtles direct its at
tack upon so vulnerable a point. In
some respects the defense of the
Panama canal Is even more important
than that of New York or San Fran
cisco. If the canal could be captured
or closed the American fleet, or a
portion of It, on one side of the con
tinent could b practically isolated
from the other. The delay in sending
the fleet around Cape Horn might
determine the issue of battles. It was
largely this argument which con
vinced the United States that the
Panama canal should be built.
It was not foreseen, of course, that
the development of fiKhting air craft
would completely change the problem
of defending the canal. The water
way is extremely vulnerable to air
attack. Great fortifications have been
built and fitted with the heaviest
ordnance in tbe world to defend
either entrance to the canal. Mean
while a single well-directed shot from
the air might put the entire water
way out of commission for an Indef-
Showing the Panama Ship Route from Sea to Sea. The White Parts of the Land
, Area -Indicate the Canal Zone Controlled by the United States.
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A Torpedo-Carrying Seaplane Dropping a Torpedo During Flight
Inite length of time. A single bomb 1 would be required to open the canal t many miles offshore and well out of
dropped directly above the Gatun to navigation. the range of the enemy's fortifica-
locks. for Instance, might work such I The war has shown that air attacks tions. An enemy fleet, for instance,
havoc that a year or more of labor I can be directed from a fleet stationed 1 could cross either the Atlantic or
Pacific ocean and launch a number
of aeroplanes which could fly swiftly
high above the anti-aircraft guns
mounted against such an attack. If
the enemy worked from a land base
the problem of attack would, of
course, be greatly simplified. It will
be recalled that the Zeppelin attacks
on London and Paris were launched
from bases several hundred miles dis
tant The great air station being equipped
at the Panama canal enjoys many
natural advantages. It will depend
for its defense on both land and sea
planes, as well as dirigibles. Its most
Important weapon will be the famous
flying craft of the NC-4 type. The
marvelous accomplishment of these
flying boats designed by Americans.
equipped with Liberty engines and
manned by American crews, nas
proved their efficiency. The canal air
defenses have an immense advantage
over the enemy in any attack because
of the short flying radius which will
be required of them.
The heavy land artillery located on
either side of the Isthmus of Panama
may be depended upon to hold the
enemy' about six miles offshore. To
venture further in unless the forts be
silenced would be to court annihila
tion. The fleets of flying craft will
only be required to fight at a dis
tance of six miles from their base.
They can, therefore, leave their bases,
attack the enemy fleet and return
with a flying radius of almost 12
miles. As a matter of fact, a con
siderable margin would be allowed.
The NC-4 boats have proved beyond
question that they are efficient over a
flying radius of more than 2000 miles.
The difference in the amount of gas
oline required for a 12-mile and 2000-
mile radius Is considerable. Thia
enormous economy in carrying capac
ity would, of course, be utilized for
carrying bombs, guns and ammuni
tion. A fleet of the NC-4 boats would
thus prove extremely effective against
any air fleet which could be sent
against them from over sea. Their
fighting efficiency would, of course,
be supplemented by land machines of
the Martin bomber type and dirigible
balloons.
The Flylnj Groundn.
The location of the flying grounds
is ideal. It Is situated on the east
ern shore of Folks river and an
estuary of the bay. The land, though
level, is naturally marshy, but by
filling in a practically unlimited area
becomes available, which is also con
venient to an Ideal body of water
suitable .for flying boats. The loca
tion is conveniently connected by a
brush line with the Panama railroad
and by concrete roads. The hangars
are built around the edges of a lagoon,
while the quarters of the officers
and non-commissioned men are lo
cated at the ends of the hangars on
Opposite sides. The landing field is in
the rear of the hangars on the south
side. Both land and water planes can
thus be easily handled and housed.
France field is at this writing under
'command of Lieutenant N. F. Harmon
Jr., J. M. A., with the title of de
partment air service commander. The
7th aero squadron Is at present en
gaged here in active flying and
flights will be in operation as soon
as the personnel and materials are
available. The pilots and observers
at France field have had wide ex
perience in flying in France, several
having been attached to the French
and British armies.
PORTLAND'S FOREIGN NEWCOMERS RABIDLY
ADJUST THEMSELVES TO NEW CONDITIONS
Proeesa of Slaking New Citizens Here Is of Vast Importance, and. Though Generally Wen Handled, There
la Boom for Much Improvement.
(Continued from Flrt Pm )
caps and set out to overcome them,
alert to seize every possible chance.
Their teachers find that the chil
dren, once their interest la aroused,
become tractable, though many of
them at first have leanings towards
Incorrigibility. Here is called into
play tbe most difficult task that could
confront a teacher; she must be a
good student of types. Ilk her work,
and be continually on the alert for
ways and means of Influencing her
cnarges lor tne Detter. TbM Is why
the beat of tbe faculty of Portland's
schools are to be found in these dis
tricts; they have the most difficult
tasks and It calls for a keen and tried
expert of varied experience. Above
all they must be interested In their
work. and. Indeed, most of them go
even further than that; they are en
grossed In it.
P.emarkable results are dally being
accomplished In Portland. Not only
are the younger children being
bandied by the public schools, but the
adults and older boya and girls are
also obtaining their share of educa
tion In night schools and by other
methoda There are varied Institu
tions of thla character In Portland.
Even tbe smallest atudy of their
roatera will show that the foreign
born predominate. Working during
tbe day. tbey atudy at night, never
ccntent. always aiming at aomething
hijher. It was thia factor which made
tham leave their homeland. Their
Wkgons are hitched to stars; they are
not restrained by any false modesty
and their ambition knows no bounds.
The difficulty is to show them the
right way, tor, being isooraot ' of
many essentials, they may be carried
away by their longing to show their
worth into channels fraught with
moral perlL
During the war some of the foreign
aocletiea here were found to be in
culcating wrong principles. Inatead
of striving to gradually accustom the
newcomers to their adopted country,
they treated them as sections of the
parent land, trying to hold them to
their old affiliations, not wanting to
make them Americana Unmelted
. lumps were escaping from the
cauldron. The foreign-born should
not be expected .0 sacrifice all his
customs, good or bad. Americaniza
tion Is ao little understood that It is
commonly Interpreted aa the speed y
assumption of the English language,
the singing of "America" and the
saluting of the flag. Thla la but a
modicum of the real thing.
' What Caa They De Best
The aim of those in charge of the
work in Portland's center of settle
ment education la to ascertain for
what the pupil is best fitted, whether
they be man. woman or child, and
then to strive to develop the nat
ural talent. It Is not fitting that
the newcomer, who la frequently an
artisan or mechanic, and aa such
could do good work If given a chance,
be turned Into industrial channels and
made tbe lowest paid kind of laborer.
Money barons have generally seen
only one thing in the foreign immi
grantcheap labor and a commodity
which they can tfse to swell their
profita. Portland can pride herself on
what has, - besn d.ouj for Uim bore.
but there la much more that can be
accomplished. Public-spirited Indi
viduals have tried to offset some of
the 111 effects of too much street by
the erection of centers such as the
neighborhood bouse at Second and
Wooda streets. Here Miss Ida Low
enberg is in charge, and It Is a hot
bed of Americanism. The clientele
is almost all orthodox Jews, and the
work is varied and complicated, for
they care for all ages and both sexes.
Itallaaa Take Fine St mad.
In the Catholic parishes the lead
ers etrlve by every meana In their
power to properly Americanize their
newscomera. Italians of this city
Just two weeks ago formed a federa
tion of all their organizations, and
next Saturday will give their first
dance in Swiss hall. In announcing
their object President O. Collstro, in
a letter to Mayor Baker, says:
"With the federation of all the so
cltlea the Italian colony will be here
after united in all undertakings of a
publio or civic nature and freed from
self-constituted leaders who have as
sumed. In the past, to represent and
misrepresent the Italians of OrCgon
to their great Injury in tbe minds of
the American public.
In this respeot Portland's civlo of
ficials have always ahown themselves
more than anxious to meet the for
eign element of the city half way,
and they have gained co-operation in
a degree seldom met with in other
cities. Capitalization of nationality
and pleas based on appeals of a com
mon orlgion. destined for purposes of
self-aggrandizement or for reasons
Inimical - to the - nuMs ' g.oJ, ' frays
been firmly - repressed here, with
healthy o-esults. Recent efforts to
spread unwholesome propaganda by
the use of the public auditorium have
been prevented and the general tone
of Portland Is impressive on account
of the lack of serious trouble here
when most of the rest pf the country
is writhing in the throes Of unprec
edented unrest. It is a matter of
pride to know that here the. citizens
reside together in better harmony
than in most of the other sections of
the country, as a large and well-ree
ulated family should.
Clothes and Speech Are Teaeer.
A contented forelgrfer makes the
best American. The veneer of clothes
and speech does 'not count for much.
the metamorphosis must go deeper.
Accidents of birth have but little to
do with the result. During the war
it was found that the greatest agi
tators, the best little trouble makers,
were those people who had assumed
the outside polish of the American,
while the army was filled with men
who could hardly read and write the
English language, but who had
caught the spirit. Give tbe foreigner
a cnance to follow the occupation he
la Deat fitted for, a good home, and
a decent place to live, good wages and
facilities for a sound education and
the problems of Americanization are
solved.
The youngsters who emerge from
the prellminery crucible of the gram
mar schools are not lost sight of dur
ing their later work. They nearly
always manage to Impress their per
sonalities on their teachers, and their
progress Is proudly watched as they
mount through the varying stages
utvtil they enter community life.
Many of these youngsters have to
earn all or part of' their schooling.
They have more handicaps to over
come than the average American
child, but they have more pioneer
spirit to impel. Battling as they do,
fighting their way through, they
emerge at the completion of their
courses in many cases better fitted to
meet .'PUilis cj:p:;iMoji iban' dee
the youngster who haa nothing to
worry about.
A new departure In schooling, be
ing handled with great success In
Failing school, is the "opportunity
room." Here are placed the pupils
who show ability above the average,
and who would be done an injustice
were they held back in the ordinary
classes waiting on the progress of
their schoolmates. They are thus
given a chance to progress more
rapidly than were they in the grades.
It Is here that many of them make
the usual nine grades in six years.
Often It Is possible to reach the
parents through the children. The
great' field of education Is in the
grade schools, and the Portland
standard is far above the average
here. Foreign parents are usually
found proud and interested In the
progress made by their offspring.
and try to keep pace with them, the
child thus frequently becoming the
teacher at home. In this respect the
parent-teachers' meetings at the
schools have been of great benefit,
and the good accomplished by this
means alone Is astonishing, for many
elaboration of the scheme have from
time to time been adopted until now
they are almost fchools for parents,
and are fully as, important. In many
respects, as are the, ordinary classes.
The child of today spends more time
with its teachers than with, its par
ents, and the teachers of the foreign
born find the work fascinating and
worth the effort they give to It.
During the last week In September
the Jews of Portland celebrated Roan
Hashono, the Jewish new year. The
most orthodox of the Jewish congre-0-arlnnn
in the citv Is that of Shaarei-
Torah at First and Hall streets, in
charge of Rabbi Herman Marchbein.
Rabbi Marchbein Is of Russian an
cestry and received his musical and
secular education in Hungary and
Vienna, where he made his debut in
opera. As the result of his teachings
Shaarel-Torah has become a center
for what Is best in synagogal music.
He -Jjas trained - a cfiojr of 15 maj 1
singers (there are no female singers
in the Jewish orthodox church) so
pranos, altos, tenors and bassos.
Their exposition of sacred music is
wonderfuL The majority of the Jews
In Portland and they are the ma
jority of the foreign-born population
of this city come from the province
of Volynhia, and have brought their
music with them.
Study your newsboy, yout boot
black, your vegetable peddler, the
Junkman, they will amply repay your
effort. They are most all trying to
make their way in a new and strange
country, and the majority of them are
making a success of it. They have
too much at stake to fail, their aims
are high and they usually possess
sufficient determination to carry
themselves through.
Portland tries to do her best for
them. The Jews -Carry on most of
their work through their own private
subscriptions. They and other for
eign bodies have established medical
and dental clinics for the benefit of
their charges. Social life Is furthered
by dances and entertainments, par
ents and the older people are encour
aged to attend various meetings of
an educational character, playrooms
have been installed to keep the
youngsters off the streets, and sincere
efforts have been made to supply
some means to offset the fast and
unwholesome American life. This is
also partially accomplished by social
and literary clubs, reading rooms.
and. gymnasiums.
Worn there Is in plenty, and work
of the right sort In Oregon for the
Immigrant, and they receive, as a
general rule, a little better treat
ment here than In many other sec
tions of the country. Thanks to the
natural advantages, a better class of
foreign population is attracted and.
naturally, they make better citizens.
But Americanization cannot live in
hovels, and it does not mean drudgery
and poverty, and Portland can yet
find a great deal to correct in this
respect, though erring less than the
majority si Qther citjsa, ,
Lawn Tennis Is Played for
Queen 300 Years Ago.
Book of Elizabeth's Time Telia of
"Squared Green Court."
LAWN tennis is at least three cen
centuries old, having been played
in 1591, when Queen Elizabeth was
entertained at Elvetham, in Hamp
shire, by the Earl of Hertford. Strutt,
quoting from Nichol's "Progress of
Queen Elizabeth," relates that "after
dinner, about 3 o'clock, 10 of his lord
ship's servants, all Somersetshire
men, in a square green court, before
her majesty's window, did band up
lines, squaring out the form of a ten
nis court, and making a cross line in
the middle. In this square they, be
ing stript out of their doublets,
played, five to five,' with hand ball,
to the great liking of her highness."
LONDON DOCKS CROWDED
Blockade One Reason for Present
High Cost of Living.
LONDON. One cause of the high
cost of living, against which all Lon
don Is complaining, is given as the
congestion at the docks where whole
cargoes of food and other supplies are
being held up because It is . impos
sible to unload and distribute them
to points where they are needed.
Government occupancy of warehouses
is given as the principal reason for
the congestion.
The western granary, which should
be filled with provisions for Lon
don, is filled with uniforms for the
Australian army, and other Instances
equally irritating to the average Loo,-
afO being cited.