Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-27
URGES DIGGING TUNNEL
UNDER ENGLISH CHANNEL
~ and Industrial Writer, Believes
~. in Value OF Enterprise.
CAN BE BORED IN SIX MONTHS
American Engineers Would Make
Speedy Work on Task That Would
Mean Direct Rail Communications
. With Expcditionary Forces.
o, SIDNEY Low.

LONDON. December II. IF we
could put back the hands of the
Clock TO August 4. 1914, and be-
gin the war afrcsh. one of the things
eve should do would be TO build
cnanncl tunnel.
knowing what we know now. We can
sec that we should have initiated this
great enterprise within fortnight OF
the opening of hostilities. placed it in
the hands or the most competent en-
ynccrs and contractors in Great Brit
ain. France and the United States, and
told them that they could have any
reasonable number OF millions for the
work, provided they could get II done
quickly.
In that case we should have had our
railway line OF communication with
lhc Continent in being and operation
year or eighteen months, or perhaps
even two years, ago, and our situa-
zion at the front, and throughout the
war zone, would he very much more
favorable than it il to-day.
have just come back from visit
10 that area, i'll which | had oppor-
tuniiics Ger examining not only tho
actual fighting line. but tho labor and
transport conditions. behind and al
Hfhc bases and ports. Here. and here
only. do YOU begin 10 understand tho
etupcndous task OF the administrative
departments which have to supply an
army equal 10 the population of some
European kingdoms with all il needs
TO keep itself alive and to destroy the
enemy.
Think wha, shat means. Practically
everything that huge 'expeditiouary
force" consumes comes TO il from
across the eea, Before the consign-
mcut gets to that some where in
France" which is its ultimate destina-
ton. ii is made. put together, or coll
lccted. somewhere in Britain. Il Is
loaded UP in the north or tho mid
lands on railway car or lorry. rallied
or wheeled down TO one Of our harbors.
lifted on shipboard by crane and der
rick, slowed on deck or in the hole
carried across waters hesct 10y sub
marine and floating mine, hoisted out
to wharf ut French base port
packed again on train or motor wagon
and so forwarded TO the hcadGuarters
division or unit for which it is intended.
lcvcrything-cxcept the airplanes---
must go through that process, which
has 10 be repeated when anythin:
comes back, he ii an cmpticd box of
cartridges or a damaged twelvc-inch
hoWitZer.
Damaged human beings mus, be
dealt with in tho same way The
Wounded soldier is rallied or motorcd
to tho port Of embariiation, placed on
*hiphoard' ferri"d oversee. landed on
the English coast. transferred 10 train
N"' "HIm ON 'hlS Sid"' anu 50 con-
vcycd To his hospital or convalcsccnt
home in "BliGhty" And so with every
battalion or draft or individual sent
out or brought bank.
o| CONSIDER what we should have
~" l come nart ~ least or this
"uIr human an" material fr"!Ghtas"
'oui" nave bten passed across without
~ po.lS' without any need Tor pre-
d Against marine or submarine
hoht. SHH NE BORED
~ SIX MONTHS TIME.
TaNc tho wounded alone. 40 waiting.
NO transfer from train to .tretcher and
from ambulance to hospital ship. no
tossing in crowdul boA,. but one
smooth, uninterrupted journey on
wheels from the hospta' behind the
front to the heart OF ENGLAND
or suppose HaiE wanted rc-cnforce-
ncr.is ~ few million extra shells
tn u hurry \ score of trains couid he
dispatched at tcu-miuute intervals 10
whirl the Indispensable cargo wf,b
out break ., DELAY. rich, from ,bc 49,,
milton arona or the depo;s at home ,o
the ralhcad ~ ear. tho trenches
In mere fou1'da. shnlnss and pence
W. should have saved tho cos, Of thn
tunnel many times over: and NC should
t'c months nearer Tho end Of THO war.
Is II too late even now 60 repair orr
omission? I presume ina, the narc
which tls. tunnc! can be conzt-,,,.c,I
7" mainly like most engineering prot-
icnls. a qUcetion Of expense
IN American engineer has ouernd
:" make four subchnnucI tubes. tw,,
for rails and two for motor tracks ia
th'rty-tve DAYS. THAT seems oyor-
"sngulnc BUt am ,nid hy thoso
Who ought 10 know mat with modern
machinery and sufficient labor force
III" big holc can be bored ,hrouah tho
'hannel bed IN elk months.
n" inoncy can he provided say il
IS SGo,00oo00, SO 090. Oon. even siao
600 90" tho cost Of the war for q wceE.
ich days or a fortniGht it is not worth
areHiiIf about. The labor can be had
90 II not from this country, then
from 'hiIa, India Egypt and Italy
thc arny labor corps would find Tie
coolies aud tn" navyics. II the govern.
Slcht would give its directorate carte