Views from a moving railroad train traveling from the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Canal. Commercial district and shops with signs identifying a large drug store, the Eastern Palace, and many small shops down side streets. A lush and well-to-do residential and business district. The train passes beside the Gatun lake. Passengers are seen next on a boat moving through the Gaillard Cut (formerly known as the Culebra Cut). Two women take pictures with their cameras, as another boat passes them. views of continuing construction activity high above in hills above the water with resulting debris being washed into the Cut. View from a ship entering the locks at Miraflores. Locomotive moving along track beside the locks.
United States Navy motor torpedo boats underway in the Panama Canal. Aerial view of the boats underway at sea. Aircraft in flight overhead. The aircraft dive at the boats in a simulated attack. Naval guns aboard the boats fight away the aircraft. (World War II period).
Guests leaving the traditional Commander's New Year's Day reception, at home of Major General William S. Graves, in Quarry Heights, Canal Zone, Panama. General Graves is bidding guests farewell, as they leave the reception.
Secretary of War John Wingate Weeks and Representative Julius Kahn board the U.S. Army Transport Ship "Cambrai", in Canal Zone, Panama. Local U.S. Army Commander, Major General william S. Graves, and his wife bid adieu to them and move down the ramp. Other dignitaries also see them off and move down the ramp. Passengers on board the ship wave from the railings, as ship moves away. Army officer and others watch as ship departs. Secretary of War, John Weeks and Kahn Congressman Julius Kahn, standing on wharf, with those seeing them off, before boarding the ship.
Relates to the U.S. Antarctic expedition,Operation High Jump. Shows USS Philippine Sea underway in the Panama Canal. U.S. Navy Admiral Richard E. Byrd in conversation with naval officers on the deck. Sailors attach ice skis to the landing gears of the Douglas DC-3 aircraft aboard the deck.
People on the streets of Panama city, Republic of Panama. The Isthmus of Panama shows vendors selling goods to local people in a marketplace. A crowded marketplace. People buy goods from stalls. Women sitting on a sidewalk talking. An old black woman sitting leaning against a wall and chewing.