Show Knox Calls Air Defense At Canal Nations Nation's Best BALBOA C. C Li Sept 25 UP Secretary UP-Secretary Secretary of the Navy Knox declared Friday on an inspection trip of the Panama canal that we probably have as perfect a defense against air attack as as- anywhere in the world world certainly certainly anywhere under our flag Knox who came here from the I United States aboard a big naval seaplane praised navy army-navy cooperation cooperation cooperation co co- co- co I operation in the defense and said he noted a tremendous amount of changes and improvements since his previous visits He also arso praised the cooperation especially of the government of Panama and the governments of Central and South America He said he had observed that everybody here apparently appreciates appreciates appreciates the gravity of the situation on this active war front this potential danger spot duplicating conditions in the southwest Pa Pa- Knox who last visited this area in December 1940 arr arrived ved Thurs Thurs- Thursday Thursday Thursday day afternoon afternoon at the Coco Solo naval base on the Atlantic side of t the h e isthmus where he was greeted by Lieutenant General Frank Andrews Caribbean defense defense de do- zone commander and Rear Admiral Clifford Van Hook commandant commandant com com- com I mandant of the Fifteenth naval district A short time later he took off for the Pacific side in General Andrews Andrews' Andrews Andrews' Andrews Andrews' An An- drews' drews plane piloted by the general general general gen gen- eral himself While it was n not t disclosed how howlong howlong howlong long the secretary would remain in the Canal Zone it was known that he planned an inspection of defense installations on both sides of the isthmus and it was expected expect expect- ed that he also would call can on the president and foreign minister of Panama In Washington the navy department department department de de- de- de said Knox's trip to the Canal Zone was was a routine visit of inspection Observers there re recalled recalled re- re called caned however that at a press conference September 11 he said he IB expected to depart soon on a trip to Rio de Janeiro pausing en route route route-at at American bases Many improvements have been made in the Panama canal defenses defenses de de- de- de lenses since the secretary's last visit here While most of these cannot be disclosed disclosed- the navy has announced in recent months the creation of a new base at Taboga island eight miles off the Pacific entrance establishment of speedy torpedo boat patrols and induction i of former tuna boats into patrol service |