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Show GENERAL GOETHALS' WANTS TO RETIRE TO PRIVATE LIFE Washington, Juno C. Major General Gen-eral Georgo W. Gocthals, governor ot tho cnnn,l zone, conferred with Secretary Baker today and Is understood under-stood to have reiterated his desire tq retlro to private llfo. Secretary Baker Ba-ker declined to dlscuBs that featuro of tho conferenco .Ho probably will present tho general's request to President Pres-ident Wilcon within a few days. General Goethals expressed satis-faction satis-faction with tho condition of tho canal, telling tho secretary that adequate ade-quate precautions had teen taken to guard aga)nst 'recurrence ot slides. "Thero may be occasional times In very wet seasons when the canal will bo closed," ho said, "but oven then It will not prevent navigation for more than a day or two." Tho general applied for retirement recently and when tho slides occurred occur-red ho withdrew the application nnd arsumed direction of tho repair work. It Is understood his present roquest U conditioned upon tho wish of President Pres-ident Wilson and should tha general be nsked to continue In service ho Will willingly comply. |