Retyped for clarity on November 6, 1999 by Joseph Betters
Received from John Johnson at the 1999 Vance Reunion.

From an unknown newspaper article.

Destroyers Transit Canal On Way To US

Eight destroyer escorts of the United States Fleet transited the Panama Canal yesterday as the movement of Pacific Fleet units which will participate in Navy Day ceremonies at East Coast ports continue.

Five destroyers were scheduled to make the trip through the canal today and eleven more destroyer escorts are expected to arrive in Balboa tomorrow enroute to East Coast ports.

Transiting the canal yesterday were the U.S.S. Vance, Hill, Lansing, Merrill, Rall, Durant, Caleaterra and Chambers.

Scheduled to go through today to Cristobal are the USS Aylwin, MacDonough, Dale, Dewey and Farraught.

Besides the destroyers and destroyer escorts, at least a score of submarines have gone through the canal this week and more are arriving for transit.

In addition to the movement of these smaller units of the Fleet, preparations are going forward to handle the passage of a task force of 34 Warships of the U.S. Third Fleet, designated as the ''Navy Day Unit" which will participate in Navy Day ceremonies in East Coast ports on October 27. According to Navy Department information, the group of seven battleships, seven aircraft carriers, three cruisers and 17 destroyers is due to go through the canal on October 18.

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