E.S. "Gordon" Lacey - Diary 2

the ship was towed through into the next Lock, where the whole process was repeated. Steaming out of the Miraflores Locks we came to a small lake, and after crossing this we came into the mouth of the great Culebra Cut. This is a fine piece of work. In places the Canal is cut through a regular

mountain, and there must have been millions of tons of earth shifted. After steaming in between high walls of rock for a considerable time we came out into a great lake, that has been made artificially. The scenery here is very beautiful, a hilly main -land, and pretty little islands dotty all round, all covered with rich tropical vegetation,

Bananas, Cocoanuts, Ferns, & Palms, of ever description. In one place the railway line is built on a bridge which carries an electric cable of 44,000 volts. In two or three places there are wireless stations built on the heights above the lake. About dinnertime we had to pull up in the middle of the lake as there was a violent rainstorm and we could not see ahead.

The storm passed off quickly and the shone as brightly as ever. Our next stop was at Gatun Locks, the largest of the three sets. Here things were directly opposite to what they were in Miraflores and Pedro Miguel, Instead of pumping water in, it was pumped out and the boat sank down until at last it was on the sea

level again. We were given a great reception all along the Canal. On the edge of Miraflores Locks crowds of civilians and American Soldiers gathered to see us, as we were the first Australian Troops to pass through. Before long, showers of coins, badges, and other souvenirs, were being exchanged between the Yanks and our chaps. When we arrived at