The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-13
Ne VS. FROM
Z ef9.s s
! FAR PARIS
Day Dreaming of the
Frenchmen.
mediterranean TUNNEL
Also a Canal That viii Garry War
Ships Far Inland Would
Cost Vast Sums.

PARIS, Jan. 6.-(By Mail. .)-Those
who believe that the twentieth century
is to be marked by a long line of gi-
ganticrworks, for which the discover
les of the nineteenth are the prepara-
ton, . see in "The, Canal of the Two
Seas" and the Mediterranean tunnel
the first examples Of the coming won
ders. France heads the projects
France, that has shown the way so
often, only to be, outstripped by other
peoples; France of the Suez canal and
Panama. This time, however, the work
is for herself and not for others. The
tunnel that, by the courtesy of Spain
land Morocco, is to unite her to her
African possessions may have a mill
tary and industrial outcome undreamed
Of now, while the canal that is to open
up the Mediterranean to her as to no
other power may make France inde-
pendent of Gibraltar. The possible eff,
| fects of the latter are so revolutionary
| Iu0l IL ID SdSy lOI TISuCHu6H u DH-
| lieve what an English statesman Is
pretended to have said: ''If France is
willing to spend 100000 900. to make
the Canal des Deu34Mers, we will be
willing TO spend 1,500 ,ogU, 900 to prevent
her!"
From Paris to the Soudan without
changing carsi" This is the cry of the
tunnels partisans. 1t is the answer of
France to Cecil Rhodes conception,
From the Cape to Cairo
Finance and Engineering.
When Spain and Morocco grant the
privilege, the work becomes a simple
matter of French finance and French
engineering. On clear days you can
see Gibraltar from Tangiers; and while
the spot has not yet been made public,
| it is said that the European end of the
tunnel Is to be not many miles from
| England's stronghold. The consent OF
| Spain and of Morocco? For a long
time all the European nations have
had their eyes fixed longingly on the
land of "The Sick Man of the West
His policy has been to play one off
against the other, yet it has always
been acknowledged that Spain has a
vague kind of claim upon him. Spain
persuaded, and France backed up by
the Gear, the concession of the tunnel
becomes almost probable. It is said
by the French that the chief work of
Count Muravieff, Russian Minister Of
Foreign Affairs, when he passed
through Paris, was to make plans for
the time when France should make
her claims in this direction. AS for
Spain, it Is said that she sees indus
trial salvation in this scheme that
would place her on the direct line Of
the immense development of Africa,
and the persistent rumor that she has
given to France and Russia permission
to fortify Ceuta is looked on as espe-
cially significant
What the Project Means.
From Paris to Soudan without
changing carsl" 1t is difficult at first
hearing for even the enthusiastic
This twelve-mile tunnel underneath the
narrow strait of Gibraltar is to unite,
| in the most intimate way, all Frances
| African pOSScSSlOQS Win the mOllST
country. France is to be extended
practically TO the utmost confines OF
her long-cherished expensive colony Of
Algeria. Half of the objections to its
colonization by French farmers, arti-
sans and industrials-all the worst
kind Of stay-at-homes-must iisap-
pear. The French horror of sea voy-
| age-something inexplicable to Ame~-
leans and English-is no longer to
stand in the way of tourists, settlers
and spectators.
But this is only a beginning" says
the Frenchman glibly. "The projected
railway line along the northern coast
Of Africa will extend to meet the line
OF Tripoli and so continue to Cairo and
the Isthmus of Suez. There another
tunnel will be cut under the Suez canal
itself, and the railroad will continue
on triumphantly along the shores Of
the Persian gulf, on, on, across the con-
tinent of Asia to-BombayI"
| Mr.. Berlier, engineer Of the Gibraltar
tunnel, declares that the work will not
i ppc& moro than 100 0nn mn fra nc