Salt Lake Telegram | 1915-04-16 | Page 10 | Ancient Castle Will Again be Used as a Protection for Panama

Ancient Castle Will Again Be Used as a Protection for Panama Corr Correspondence Associated Press Prees PANAMA API April II 10 Fort 10 Fort San Lorenzo Lorenzo Lo Lo- Lo- Lo renzo an ancient fortress which stands on a high bluff at it tho the entrance to the harbor at tho the mouth of the tho Changres Chans river probably will again aln pla play a n p part partIn rt In the defense of oC the Iho Isthmus Canal nal authorities authorities au au- are trying tr to lo obtain from Panama Pan- Pan Panama ama lima the right to establish re-establish the old oldfort fort fortress reM rebuilding It and placing there there- in a number of modern and high power coast defense guns The site Ilo on the ancient fortress is Important Imp because e It stands s at en- en tJ of a n deep water r wa way from rom the sea to the Gatun locks dam damand mind and spillway It Is declared that the Chagres river is easily navigable for small torpedo boats bC and submarines I The only obstacle Is 3 a bar at et the rhe mouth of oC the tho river However this ma may be passed at hl high h tide I The castle of San Lorenzo was built b bj by order of Phillipp 11 II of oC Spain in 1597 59 and for man many years was con considered I practically impregnable Impre John oh n Morgan lol an anI and his Buccaneers however almost I destroyed the fortress and ann the tho En English l h. h under Admiral Vernor Verner captured l It i E Ij 1740 O blew ble the fort Cort skyward then It has ben been an historic ruin The American government nt has lpt lp Jp regarded cd the mouth t of tho the s iier ii riv- riv or er a as an important point in ht the Cb coast bast defenses of the tho Panama canal special l ly in view of ot the tho ac accessibility of th tb the v locks dam ilam ant and it t Gatun through h the stream The nearest fl Cost Cost- t of any strength th and imp lt ance ar j ar-j now at al Toro foro Point near CoK Colf 5 on en which Is about right miles oss o or Ran San Lorenzo