Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 37
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[Page 37]
dashed past the ship in a motor boat a fact, they had been hunting, a fact testified to by the dead deer they hid on board; doubtless the ranges around the lake provided good sport for game as much of the country is in a very wild state.
The Republic of Panama has a population of 250,000, and its principal income is derived by the renting of the canal zone to the U,S,A,. The Republic's standing army, is a standing joke, consisting of 22 officers and 2 men, this is of course peace footing. The U,S,A, has heavily fortified the canal zone; it is said that one of the fort's guns will carry 42 miles.
Before the canal could be built the yellow fever; which is spread like Malaria by the mosquito; had to be cleaned out, and to do this the mosquitos had to be cleared out. So the doctors and directors set to work draining the swamps and cleaning up the place in general with the result that the country which was formerly known as the white man's grave is as healthy as anywhere else.