Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-05-23

Great Britain has Joined the pro-
VA vi cessiOn In a physical sense. accoruins
FMAC0ll to plans now on foot, and Is about ID
lWN join herself to the mainland OF Europe
INN I'll with tunnel under the English chan'
N% mel, connecting the British isles WIN
France. Away back in 1SO2 the ioea
started, before Napoleon's career was nnisneu ~
the battle Of Waterloo. And now, more than wv
years later. the plans being gone over for tne
fftieth time. perhaps, and all indications point !"
a speedy beginning of actual work.
Costing only $1,000 900. and being at most a
seven years job, the whole task is being APP
preached with confidence that is typically Brt.
ish. Compared to war expenses, the $loOVVV'VV"
Is trifiing. The French favor the plan
Napoleon himself first officially suggested the
plan of connecting continental Europe with the
British isles by means Of a tunnel. According 10
the story still going the rounds In Europe Ma
poleon's inspiration came from an engineer OF the
name of Matthew In the early days OF the last CEN
fury during the peace Of Amiens.
Now members Of the British cabinet and parlia-
mect are trying to get operations started at once
and for some weeks interchanges Of views have
taken place between the various interested eie-
ments In England and with officials Of the French
government without any 0nncial cold water having
been thrown In sufficient quantity to dampen the
ardor of the several promoters
During the war tunnel under the straits Of
Doyer-the site approved by all promoters Of the
plan-would have been embarrassing to the Eng
ush say the least. military critics state Twice.
least, before the Germans were finally defeated.
fU{ whole progress of the war would have been
affected, to the disadvantage Of the allies. had
the English field marshal been compelled to try to
protect the French entrance to q tunnel
During the retreat from Mons to the Marne. in
1914 tunnel entrance on the French side would
have placed the English general in the dilemma Of
either retreating toward the tunnel to save it or
keeping in touch with the French In the general re-
treat and thereby preserving some kind Of a con-
tinuous front against the Germans. BY breaking
from the French and falling back on the tunnel.
the British force would have been surrounded and
probably forced to surrender, 1t is figured out by
prominent army men in England.
Before the war there was considerable army and
navy objection in England to the tunnel project.
And when the war came 1t found that pos
session of a tunnel In the first stages OF the war
would have been a liability rather than an asset
Now however, with the Advancement of en-
cheering knowledge old difficulties are removed
IT IA planned to install In the tunnel arrange
ment whereby mile of the tubes can he flooded.
without actually destroying the whole structure,
thereby preventing the possibility Of invasion of
hostile army.
Actual steps have been taken to sound official
opinion in France. Bonar Law of Great Britain
has; communicated with Prime Minister Lloyd
George in Paris. asking him to approach the
French government for its view on the subject.
1t is believed by official circles in London that
the whole proposition is one for the French and
British governments to settle, and not subject
for discussion at the peace conference.
An Old Proposition.
Many years ago the first tunnel was started from
the English side beneath the straits of Dover A
the present time the old tubes still extend ZOO
wards toward the French coast. The newer plans
however will require two tubes. running side b,
side 800 feet beneath the surface of the sea. On
tube would be used for French-bound traffic entire
md the other tube would be USED for English
bound trains
Investigation has shown that the water In tn
straits of Dover from 16O to $50 feet deep at tn
most The bottom of the sea is kind of chal
formation that has been rendered watertight b
the inftration of clay sediment. This chalk be
- abmt 100 feet thick, that tunnel 800 fee
beneath the surface Of the sea- following the chal
strata. would probably be safe enough, the eI
gineers believe.
AT fairly close intervals the two tubes would
connected with oblique cross tunnels. which wi
assist in ventatng the long tubes. BY using ee
,r,c trains the great objection of smoke from Il
,sual oal-burnng oil-burning locomotives is r
moved.
I'm account Of the formation OF the chalk be
S,r FRANCIS Fox believes the two tubes should
.'v,d enough to keep both lines well within Il
limits of the chalk formauoh. j.
london will be connected by rail with oil q