"This installment in the USNI Chronicles series pulls together some of the best pieces on the Panama Canal from the Naval Institute's vast archives. With the Panama Canal currently undergoing a major expansion, it is appropriate and enlightening to look back to the early days of this remarkable and somewhat presumptuous project. With its substantial maritime impact, it is not surprising that the canal was the subject of much thought-provoking dialog in the Naval Institute's unique forum."--Provided by publisher.