The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-08
The Channel Tunnel % War
Memorial.

The project for the construction of
tunnel under the English Channel,
which has been for years under con-
sideration In England, has met the
approval Of the Allied nations on the
Continent. At n meeting Friday Of
the International Parliamentary Con-
ference at London the French and
italian delegates promised their
strong support Of the scheme and
the conference voted unanimously in
favor of the earliest possible compile
ton of the work.
The war has revived in an unusual
degree interest In this project. 1t
has, too, become strong factor In the
present urgent demand for this means
Of communication between England
and France. Sir Francis Fox, who
was one of the builders Of the Sim
plon tunnel and Of similar great
works, has always been an active sup
porter Of the Channel tunnel. In a
recent address upon the subject he
said that the value of such an I'M
foreground passa geway could be real
lied when 1t Is considered how strong
ly instrumental 1t would have been
in the transporting Of troops, reduc-
Ing the suffering Of the wounded and
sick and In saving lives. 1t would
in n great measure have brought i'm
mun1ty from the peril Of mines and
submarines in the line Of communica-
ton between England and the Cont
mental Allies.
The preliminary surveys that have
been made show that the Channel
tunnel Is neither visionary project
nor one which would present many
serious difficulties Of construction or
maintenance. Sir FRANCIS Fox in
discussing the construction problem
said that the maximum depth of the
water in the English Channel did not
exceed $50 feet and that the cover
Of the chalk formation over the struc-
ture could be made rs thick az 100
feet. This, he believed, would be
safeguard against all contingencies
He said that borings made over the
entire distance between England and
France showed that the geological
strata on both sides Of the Channel
were identical. "The beds, their
thickness, the dip. the formation" he
asserted, "are similar in all respects"
AS regards the practical working
Of the tunnel his plan was the estaD
lishment Of power houses as far in
land rs ten miles. BY this means the
tunnel. which according to his de-
signs was to consist Of two tubes,
each eighteen feet in diameter, was to
be ventilated and operated. His con-
trlvance for forming water lock"
was dip in the level Of the rails. A
mile OF the tunnel could thus be COW
cred with water in a few minutes If
m emergency requiring the closing Of
the passage should arise.
There nre considerations Of travel
and trade after the war which will
make this new route from London to
the Continent of great value. For
years after peace comes the traffic
between the Allies Of western Europe
will be greater than 1t ever was be-
fore. There will be less travel by way
of the Hook Of Holland route and
down the Rhine to Italy and south
eastern Europe. The allied nations
have already formed plans which will
divert travel and traffic by the Orient
railway line through Germany and
Austria to the railroads across France
and Italy.
By means Of the tunnel trains can
be run direct from London to Paris.
The inconvenience of the passage of
the Channel in rough weather and the
! changes from boat to railway will all
be Obviated. Sir FRANCIS Fox pre-
sents rather pleasing prospect of
the future convenience of travel, a
future which he declares is "by
no means impossible OF realization"
Travellers from London, he says, will
be able through the medium Of the
tunnel to reach the most distant parts
Of Europe, Asia and Africa without
leaving the railways of the world.
And the project does not require the
assistance Of Germany or Of the Teu-
tonic plans of world economic con-
quest to bring 1t to success.
The building Of this link between
these two allied nations. 1t Is sug-
gested, would be worthy way of
celebrating the victory of the Entente
armies. 1t would constitute u con
vinclng symbol of lasting mutual con-
fidence and unity" and, as Sir Arthur
FELL recently said in the House of