The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-16
BOLD BRITAIN'S BUGBEAR.
Shall There Be a Tunnel Connecting
England with the Continent2
A Contest Between the Englishman's Purse
and His National Pride-A Discussion
of n Delicate Question.
Dorrespondence OF the Indianapolis Journal.


Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, June 1.-The question of whether
there shall be a Channel tunnel connecting
England with France has again come into
prominence, and in the testimony given this
week before the joint committee Of the
houses of Lords and Commons some facts
have been stated and some opinions ex-
pressed which will be almost as interesting
to readers on the other side of the Atlantic
as to the citizens of the two countries
specially concerned. What Englishmen are
trying to find out is, first, whether the pro-
posed tunnel would be profitable invest
mentin commercial sense, and secondly,
whether it would be expedient from mill
tary point of view. To the first proposition
the leading merchants and manufacturers
have been called to testify, and their opin-
ions, as matter of course, are unanimously
affirmative. By dispensing with the I'M
pleasant sea voyage the tunnel, they say,
would greatly swell the influx of CONT
mental tradesnen, and they are quite con-
WINGED that when these visitors saw their
goods they would buy them. Another ad-
vantage, they contended, would accrue from
the reduction of the rates of transportation
which the tunnel would bring about, by
means of which they could compete on the
most favorable terms with manufacturers
abroad. On the second point raised, viz, as to
the expediency of the project, opinions have
been sought from those versed in naval
and military matters who, as your
readers are aware, have, for the most part,
pronounced adversely to it, setting forth
with marked emphasis and unanimity that
in the event of war with France such tun-
mel would be a source of great danger. Thus
the Britisher is in state of the most painful
perplexity for both these considerations touch
him in places where his tenderest sensibili-
ties lie, the former affecting his pocket and
the latter menacing his national pride, He
would dearly love to enlarge his trade but
whether he will consent to do this at the risk
of having the land he proudly calls his own
invaded by hostile troops, whereas at present
he rests in the comfortable thought that
Britannia's supremacy on the sea precludes
the possibility of such a catastrophe, is
another question, pending the settlement of
which by the august committee now strug-
Cling with it, we can appropriately sing of
our perplexed friend,
''HOw happy could he be with either.
We're t other dear eharmer away"
AN EXPERTS SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY.
Among the military experts who have tes-
titled before this committee during the pres
ent week the one whose statements have
commanded the widest attention has been
Sir Lintorn Simmons. The testimony of til is
gentleman verges closely on the sensational
and the revelation he makes of the numer-
ical weakness of the British army, if
true, must certainly awaken
alarm. If an army got possession of the pro-
posed channel tunnel, the present military
organization of Great Britain, he said, could
not possibly expel snch army nor could
sufficient force be placed in the field to re-
sist the forces which would surely, in that
case, be poured in upon them. They had only
he declared, 96, $50 men at home. and "a, 900
of those, having been but one year in the
service, could scarcely be called soldiers
The utmost they could put into the field at
the present time would be two army corps,
of about 10000 together, and if that were
done they would not have enough troops for
their foreign garrsons, which were now, he
said lamentably deficient in strength. Re-
plying to question by the chairman of the
committee, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the
distinguished witness continued: 81 do not
think the precautions suggested for the de-
Tense of the tunnel would be sufficient. l do
not think any steps taken for the destruction
of the tunnel would prevent its re-opening
Surprising no tunnel existed, should think
that 10000 men might be landed on our
shores without any warning, and if the tun-
mel existed such force might succeed in
taking possession of 1t. II the entrance to
the tunnel were three miles inland, it is pos
sible that an invading force, before it got to
the tunnel, might find it closed, if the pre-
cautions recommended by the scientific
committee, were adopted but some of the
proposals might fail to operate The blow
ing in of the tunnel would mean only so
many tons of chalk to be removed and with
the Improvements that have been made in
mechanical appliances thet would not be a
difficult task" Being asked If the approach
of squadron carrying 90 900 or 80 900 men
: would not at once attract the attention of
the military and naval authorities on the
English coast, Sir Linton said it might but
with the large number of vessels passing
through the channel, he did not think that
ten or dozen ships coming from different
parts, would attract much attention. 1--WE
may take it, them" said the chairman, "that
you consider the existence OF the tunnel
would afford considerable temptation to
any possible invaderT' Enormous tempta-
tion," replied the witness ~ think, too
we are living in sort of FOOLS paradi Sc. We
have only food enough in the country for
two months, and if, in the event OF war, we
were to meet with reverses at sea- we should
have the people crying out for peace, and
one OF the conditions Of that peace might be
the surrender of the fortress constructed to
defend the tunnel" The further examina-
tion of this very positive witness was even
more spicy than the portions of it sketched
did not think if war were declared, the gov
eminent would take steps to Immediately
obstruct the tunnel, he said he did not be-
lieve the government would scarcely dare