On this day, 69 years ago, June 13, 1956 (May 5, 1956 in the lunar calendar), the United Kingdom withdrew its last troops from the Suez Canal. On June 13, 1956, British officers and others, a symbol of the last force, sailed out of Port Side in the morning-five days before the June 18 deadline-and Britain's 72-year occupation of the Suez Canal area came to a quiet end. Egypt began to assume full responsibility for defending this great east-west waterway. Many Egyptians have been preparing for a grand five-day celebration. A week ago, President Nasser told them that on June 19 they would awaken and enter a "glorious new era" where Egypt would no longer be "under imperialist rule." Although the British are sensitive to the loss of a crucial link in their imperialism, they prefer not to interfere. "We decided we didn't want to write a song and dance when we finally left," a British officer said.