The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-29
THE STRAITS OF DOVER.

Christian Science Monitor: The strait
of Dover, the narrow sea which sapa-
rates England from France, is, perhaps,
one Of the bestknown pieces of water
in the world. For Englishmen, all
through the centuries, II has eve" ap-
peared to epitomize the island character
Of their country, and has been ever re-
garded by them as one of their great
bulwarks of defense. The silver streak
which runs between the Pas-de-Ca.ais
and the coast of Kent has. indeed, al
ways been the obstacle of obstacles TO
the invader. II was to cross this barrier
that Julius Caesar prepared his long
bcaked ships, some fifty years . so be-
fore the Christian era; that William
the Norman got together his great fleet
of flat.bottomed boats eleven hundred
years afterwards; that Philip Of Spain
prepared his armada in the sixteenth
century; and that Napoleon, some two
hundred years later still, assembled his
fleet Of specially prepared ships at
Boulogne Let me be master Of the
channel for six hours. and we are mas
ters Of the world" he declared TO his
staff, as they contemplated the great
army encamped on the heights above
the town; but, as all the world knows,
of course. the six hours never came.
Except for the momentary success
which attended the invasion Of Louis
OF France, ia the early days of the thir.
teenth century. there has been no sue.
cessful invasion OF England across the
waters Of the strait since the days
Of the conqueror Indeed. the armies
OF adventure led by Louis, whom the
barons had called 90 their aid in the
struggle with King John. did not find
their way to England strictly speaking.
across the strait They sailed up the
coast, down the estuary Of the Thames.
and landed in Thanet; but the ever.
memorable Battle OF Dover the great
and only naval engagement Of the
struggle, was fought within sight Of
Dover on the one side, and Of Calais
on the other.
Many marvels were told about this
great sea fight. and at every telling.
the naval forces OF France. under the
command OF Eustace the Monk. grew
larger and more formidable: whilst the
British naval forces Of the Cinque ports.
under the command of the famous Hu.
bert de Burgh, grew less. The story Of
how Hubert de Burgh dauntlessly put
TO sea, and by hugging the wind gained
the weather gauge Of the French; how
Eustace, under the impression that Hu.
bert was making for Calais. was loud
In his scoffing, knowing that Calais
was well guarded; how, suddenly. when
well TO the windward. the little fleet
OF the Cinque ports changed its course.
and bore down on the Frenchmen. and
how unslacked lime and the iron
boards on the English vessels did the
rest Is one Of the favorite stories of
English history. II gave the ouie,us
10 the cause OF Louis. ana definitely
secured the throne OF Henry III.
All the centuries which followed wore
suspicious times" on those waters.
Nowadays OF course, at any rate in the
times ot pePce, one NAV travel from
Dover to Calais. or from Dover to os.
tend, or one may go across TO France
from Folkestone by way Of Boulogne.
but In the times Of Hubert de Burgh
and Eustace the Monk, communication
was not so free and easy. Dover to
Withstand, and later Dover TO Calais.
were the accustomed routes. whilst. by
statute of 1865, no one might ship for
Calais except at Dover. And yet. how.
ever one cross the strait. the impress.
sion gained is much the same. the white
cliffs OF Kent capped with green. slow.
~ sinking into the sea astern. and the
shores OF France rising up out OF the
sea ahead. II is not that there is any.