The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-15
The English Channel Tunnel.

According to the London Times. the report
OF the committee appointed to examine the
Channel tunnel project is so unfavorable that
no other steps toward the execution Of the
work are likely to be taken for some time to
come. In other words the great mercantile
nation of the world Is to fOrego splendid
triumph OF applied science, which 1t Is ac-
knowledged would prove OF incalcuable ben
eft to her commercial interests. The work
may be temporarily postponed, owing to the
species OF panic engendered by the outcries
Of sentimentalists and the misgivings OF
military critics. but we cannot believe that
many years will elapse before the good sense
Of the English people will demand resump-
ton Of the useful undertaking.
1t Is now about ten years since the scheme
OF Channel tunnel was seriously mooted,
and about eight since an investigation to de-
termine the feasibility Of the enterprise was
officially authorized. The necessary geo.
graphical and typographical inquiries, and
the solution OF the various mechanical prob
lens involved, naturally occupied good
deal OF time and entailed large expendi-
ture. The result Of these investigations is
that the preliminary question, Can the tun-
mel be made has been conclusively answer
u III tue dllTtlaIlNe. WHeL, however, Une
project was pronounced entirely practicable,
and the men who had borne the expense Of
the demonstration introduced in Parliament
. bill authorizing the execution OF the work,
Q new question was started touching the
effect OF the proposed tunnel on the national
security. and storm Of protests and re-
monstrances arose, which up to the present
time has gained in intensity, and which cul-
minated In the appointment Of committee
to report on the expediency Of the project.
Among the opponents OF the enterprise fig
ure not only majority Of the officers Of the
army and navy, but large proportion Of the
peera9e and baronetage Of the United King
dom, multitude Of clergymen OF the Church
Of England, and great array Of barristers,
physicians, men Of science, and men Of let
tiers. The Duke OF CAMBRIDGE, Gen. WoLsE-
LEY, Gen. HAMLEY, Gen. HAvELoCK ALLEN,
and Admiral DUNLANY have been conspicu-
GUS In their antagonism to the scheme, and,
curiOusly enough, we find on the same side
tho names Of HERBERT SPENCER, T. II. HUx-
LEY, Sir JOHN LUBBOCK, ALFRED TENNYsON,
ROBERT BROWNING, THEODORE MARTIN, and
GOODWIN SMITH. The arguments adduced
alike by the military and the sentimental op-
pOnents OF the Channel project may all be de-
scribed as amplihcations Of the well-known
lines spoken by JOHN Of Gaunt In SHAKE
SPARES play OF Richard H." They all
declare that the sea serves England "in the
Office OF a wall, or as q moat defensive
TO house," and that! 1t would be an
act OF folly or Of madness to break
down natures barrier. They maintain that
three consequences alone which, as they al
lege, would necessarily follow from the open.
Ing of the tunnel, are more than enough to
condemn 1t. There would result first. they
say, . certainty OF increased military ex-
penditure, even upon the showing Of the
promoters themselves, who admit that the
tunnel must be defended by extra forts, guns,
and troops, always In a state Of watchful
readiness. There would be, they urge, in the
second place, q probability Of Irresistible
outcries for larger armaments. arising out
Of panics about invasion, which would occur
with greater acuteness and frequency In pro-
portion to the increased closeness of the
links binding England to the Continent. But
above all, say Its adversaries. the tunnel
would involve tho possibility OF irretrevable
disaster from invasion. 1t would merely be
necessary for an enemy to obtain, by sur
prise or treachery, or main force, control OF
the English terminus OF the submarine ave-
nuc, and the whole island could be speedily
overrun by an irrlption Of one Of the huge
Continental armies.
Now, although the propounders Of these
objections have hitherto seemed to have