The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-11-12

john Bull is still in an amusing state of
nervous trepidatlOn about the Channel tunnel, and
though 1t is attempted to be put on much grander
grounds plain people viii be apt ascrbe the oppo-
son to this great aud useful work OF civilization to
something very Ike COwarlice. Some part of II Is
OF course due To British conservatism, and some to
the selfish fear that the balance of trade " between
England and France may be disturbed in u manner
uhfaYOraDe To the former; but we can scarcely i'm
a6ne the United States prohibiting better means Of
communication with any country from dread Of not
being able to defend IL In of 1t Is curious
fact that on this issue the Uaited Serrire GdEotte
which must represent extent the voice Of the
Army and Navy wihstands the commanders In chief
and the commander In Egypt as boldly as Paul did
st. Peter recent number says:
The Blue book on the Channel Tunnel would show
that our Views on the scheme not altogether con-
hrned. We have hitherto taken the line that It
would be impossible for France to invade England
through, and by means Of an exaggerated rat-hOle.
The preeoncelved opinions of great military author
lilies would seem tO he against as, but while We must
accept their ruling we respectfully beg 10 adhere to
our former finding. The Duke of Cambridge and SIR
Garnet WOseley are yOluninOus In their opinions
against the construction Of the Channel Tunnel, but
II must be recalled that they had expressed their
views on the matter long before the appointment uf
the committee called Sir Archibald Allsnn's Com
mitee aud they were not likely TO be shaken In their
Views II Is some consolation 10 Ms tO hud that
high authority, Sir John Adye says; 4" Nothing Is
more obvious than the facility with which the tunnel
can le denied toan enemy by means which vigilance
on his part could prevent on TemOye.' II tho con-
sensIs of military opinion ut home be against our
views, we might point 10 the general opinion Of the
foreign press, which rdGuleS the scare aud craze.
They however, VIII be looked upon as Interested
parties, only KlOus to have the tunnel
Ia their own selfish Views II our readers will turn
10 the nes OF the papers during the days when the
Great Exhibition uf 1851, projected by Prince Abort
was proposed they win see All kinds Of absurd
lectures an 10 how hostile foreigners might bs
smuggled In paekng-ca'es and effect the suhugatun
oi this country, We laugh at an this after lapse OI
over thirty years. Ia less thau hail that tno AM
practical aud srleuhc men win laugh equally at tho
no doubt honest, hut witha contracted, vow6 ut those
who Ia this age Of dynamite could seriously consider
thai thu safely ui England nation could possibly
he impuliled by a submarine Culyert.
Another contribution To tho literature Of lho ruu-
troyorsy comes from the Ptris, which Is one uf the
organs Of NJ. Gambetta,
4" Was It not France, after ALL 'exclams the Paris
that suffered mostly from British aggression Ana
Ia II not tho case that not 50 much 100 years ago
English sOyereigns Called themselves Kings Of France
Win mite Imagination one might f0rese0 COmpu-
cations which would compel France tO fear tOg rt,
tlUn iu which oven England would take "a part. Ana
would not then the lIighlanders tho Coldstream
Guards, and the Quecns Rifles surprise as our
shores TINS hyputLesls pfuyOkes smile your
ps aud we'll II may. Hut, as the danger NJ an Eng
sh or French Invasion would not be Increased In Tie
least 10y tho existence Uf submarine tunnel We shall
no longer discuss the absurdy ot these British fears
We shall limit ourselves 10 observing the cause There
Is probably at the bottom of this opposition by the
leading classes " England attachment TO tradition
conservative nanla tue anxiety 10 preserve "a Eng
sud her insular situation, and not unlikely old pTelu-
dice against the Gauls, teir habits and civilization
The Chinese FOR The same reasons have for centuries
barred the way 10 Europeans Into their empire. But
these arc not the real causes. Ihe true Is that
the English are conscious OF their military weakness
The Egyptian expedition has proved how Inadequate
Is the military organization OF our ncighbOTB. What
efforts TO form single army corps I'm the event OF
q conflict WITH o Continental State England would
bo more than two months ia mOblli1lng her army.
should England adopt the system Of permanent
army, concludes tho IprlS, " then the tunnel would
hv made Just Ah WAS tho case with mo huCI Canal. 90
Tag once staid old North Ampicau Roriog
has OF late beeu admitting some queer articles, but
mono auesIer IN matter and manner Lhan ReY Neorpn