Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-24
ENGLISH WANT PROOF
Because They Believe Ameri-
cans Always Exaggerate.
REASONS FOR ATTITUDE
Doubt Cooks Word? Oh, No, It's
Not That!
LINERS LAND AT FISHGUARD
Passengers for London Save Time
and the Trade Advantages
Are Increased.
REASONS FOR ATTITUDE
LINERS LAND AT FISHGUARD
'oreign Correspondence Of The Star.


the reported discovery of the north pole
were inclined to disbelieve that it had
been reached by DR.. Cook. They did not
doubt DR.. Cooks word. If he actually
makes the claim of having discovered the
pole. but they thought he might have
been out in his reckoning.
They treated the reports. / found, in
much the same way as medical men here
accept the news of wonderful medical
discoveries when they come across the
Atlantic.
People on this side of the world still
find it difficult to forgive Americans for
sometimes being in advance of them, and
Americans are always regarded as ex-
aggerators. American discoveries, even
when they are right. have thus to suf-
fer through the national reputation for
eXaggeration.
Indeed, scientific men since the days
of De Rougemont. are very careful about
accepting statements which are moi
capable of easy proof or disproof. Even
Dr. Sven Hedin, when he was here
few months ago, experienced a somewhat
cold draught in the corridors OF the
learned societies.
An English Idea.
. On the other hand, it is interesting to
notice that DIR. Cook claims to have
reached the pole by means which have
been urged for some time past by a
noted English explorer. In February
last Alfred II. Harrison. who has had
long experience In the arctic regions de-
scribed in a special article how he hoped
to reach the pole. His plan was to cross
the polar regions from north of Canada
to SpitZbergen by means of sledges and
dogs and accompanied only by Eskimos.
His intention was to travel in winter,
when the ice would be compact and un-
the drift, he hoped to be able to pass
the pole and return to Civilization within
two years. Unfortunately. Mr. Harrison
was unable to raise the funds for his
expedition, but if DR.. Cook has reached
the pole 1t will be triumph for Mr..
Harrison's reasoning, at least.
Next in Importance to DR.. Cooks an
nouncement comes the new use of Fish
guard in Wales as a landing port for the
big Cunarders. The Mauretania's arrival
there Monday and the quick dispatch of
her passengers to London and elsewhere
were the sole topics of conversation until
the north pole controversy doomed up
Sixty years ago. when the South Wales
railway was planned, Brunei proposed
that it's western terminus should be at
Ffshguard bay. But Milford Haven Of
fered a saving in the railway construc-
ton, and the great engineer was over
Tuleu. lOOdy Ills JuuSIueul Is JuSliHcu.
But the task has been no light one. There
was a bay. easy of approach in any state
of tide weather, with ample water and
excellent holding ground. Withal, it was
the nearest port for south of Ireland
traffic.
But the great cliffs which shelter this
natural harbor rose sheer from the sea-
There was no room for the laying down
of the railway lines or the construction
of a quay. Dynamite. however, came to
10 Thousands thOuS andS
of tons of the cliffs were blasted, and as
they fell they were used for the provision
Of huge railway station and quay and
for the throwing out Of a combined
breakWate- and ocean quay at right
angles.
Fine Piece of Engineering.
1t was a piece OF engineering work
which would have delighted the heart Of
Brunei, but which only twentieth CEN
fury knowledge could have rendered a
reasonably possible task. AS 1t is, a
large capital outlay on the part of the
Great Western railway has been re-
qured to make this haven suitable for
shipping.
Figures are tiresome things, but they
count for something as regards Fish
guard. It is 1902 miles from New York
to the Pembrokeshire port; from New
York to Holyhead it is 2.951. to Liverpool
3,O15 and to Plymouth 1851. Let it be
added that it is 1865 miles from New
York to Cherbourg, and there is suff1-
cient in the way of statistics to explain
the situation.
First, as regards Holyhead. where the
White Star boats now land inward"
bound passengers, Fishguard and Holy
head being equidistant from London by
rail- it follows that Cunard steamers will
west of England passengers at Fish
guard instead of at Holyhead. The Gu
narders get southern part of call fifty
five miles nearer than plymouth. and are
still able to use Liverpool as home
port.
But the crux Of the problem is the
continental traffic. People do not will
ingly journey, say. from Paris TO Liver
pool to catch a Cunarder. In the same
way, If they are going from New York to
the continent, it is much simpler to go to
Cherbourg or to Havre direct. But the
Fishguard route opens up new possibil1-
ties If you go from New York 10
Cherbourg you have 163 more miles at sea
than If Fishguard is your destination,
and then you have an eight-hour run 10
Paris.
Can Better "Tap' Continent.
TRAVELLING however. direct from Fish
guard to Dover. via Reading, you could
reasonably expect to reach Paris in elev-
en- hours One might reckon. therefore,
saving SOluc SeECA nuns oPoIl 1ioAu
the saving of time at sea owing to the
high speed of the Cunarders. 1t will thus
be seen that when, as they doubtless will.
the Cunard flyers call at Fishguard on
the outward as we'll as the inward voy
age, they will be in far better position
for tapping" continental traffic than
they ever were before.
This is the true inwardness of the situa-
ton. Meantime, Fishguard comes with a
bound to the front rank among ports of
call Now that two steamers, costing
over 81 OCO, 900, say that 1t is good enough
for them, some of the other big liners,
waiting for lead, will probably be turn
ing their eyes toward the Pembrokeshire
haven.
The Earl of Verulam. who owns the land
upon which was built the ancient Roman
city of Verulamium, has given permission
to the Society of Antiquaries to under
take excavations, which will shortly be
commenced. The site of Verulamium lies
a mile or SO from the center of st. AL
bans, just at the entrance Of the beautiful
Gorhambury Park.
Verulamium was one of the most I'M
portant cities in England at the time of
the Roman occupation. With Eboracum
york. it enjoyed the dignity of being
municipium which meant that all who
were born within its walls could claim
Roman citizenship. 1t was situated in
Waiting street, and the British insurrec-
ton under Boadicea eliminated here in
the massacre of 10000 Romans. In 3OS,
or perhaps earlier, st. Alban, the first
English martyr, was beheaded on the site
of the present st. Adams Abbey. Not