Show ARMY NEEDED AT CANAL soldiers as well as sailors needed to guard big ditch washington ashington AN preparedness of the united states to defend the panama canalin canal in case of war was the subject of a series of questions put to commander stirling commanding the atlantic fleets submarine flotilla at tuesdays hearing before the house naval affairs committee the commander expressed the opinion that in addition to the navy a large mobile army would be required to protect the canal and keep it open |