East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-08-24
FRENCH SEE MASTERY
Of mediterranean BY
DIGGING GREAT CANAL
Scheme Would Nuilify Gibral-
tar Aiding Independent Ma
val Policy Says Expert.
BY HARRY L. ROGERS,
International News Service Staff
CorreSnnndent

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 24.-A
deep-sea canal, connecting the Allan
tic ocean with the Mediterranean Sea,
is the latest solution offered by French
naval experts of the problem of new
naval policy for France, according to
advices just received here from Paris.
This waterway would Link Bordeaux
with the Mediterranean and would be
for the largest battleships.
As the Kiel Canal gave the kaiser con-
troll of the Baltic, notwithstanding the
best efforts of the British fleet,
French naval experts believe this
Canal des Deux- -Mers," or canal of
the two seas. would give France the
mastery of the Mediterranean, nulli-
fying the boasted impregnability of
the defenses of Gibraltar.
Heretofore France has maintained
an ample fleet in the Mediterranean
depending upon Great Britain to pro-
tect her coasts on the Atlantic and the
channel.
Bring New Naval Policy.
With the Bordeaux canal in opera
ton it is argued, France would be
able to pursue a naval policy indie
of Great Britain. BY main
tanning a fleet of moderate size she
could protect both the Atlantic coast
and the Mediterranean, as the canal
would permit rapid and easy move
nent of ships from one base to an
other.
What is believed to be a character
site view among French naval eX-
lerts is expressed by writer in the
official organ of the French marine.
In discussing the question of a French
laval policy, he says:
Let us examine first our naval pol
icy as it existed in the years which
preceded the war That policy was
BASED upon the Entente Cordiale.'
Under it We kept in the Mediterranean
| fleet of sufficient power to assure
is Of supremacy. Great Britain was
with the protection of our
coasts or the channel and the ocean,
"NNc Remain at Mercy
should France in 1921 continue
hat policy, giving over entirely to
Great Britain the duty of protecting
he greater part of our coasts? That
would mean that we shall remain at
he mercy Of any change in the politi-
,al alignment of our allies.
"Ought we then TO have as the Am
,ricans have. fleet in the Atlantic
md another in the Pacific, fleet in
he ocean and another fleet in the
Mediterranean? That would be very
,ostly
1T would seem rather that the time
las come for the construction of the
'amous canal of the Two Seas which
would link Bordeaux with the Medit-
erranean.
This canal would cost two or three
billions of francs. Aside from its mill
tary importance. it would constitute a
,hannel Of communication of the first
,rder, and it's traffic would be almost
ls important as that of the Suez Ca
nal In case of war t would permit
If rapid concentration of our sea
forces, such as Napoleon never dream
ed of.
''Ouaht to Undertake This"
France ought to undertake this
great work. Throughout the world
The nations are debating as to what
types Of war vessels should be built,
without reaching a satisfactory agree
mont. They fear to eNpend some hun
lreds OF millions for warships which
may become obsolete before they are
"The Canal of the Two Seas, pro-
rided that it is made large enough and
deep enough, will remain after ten
years, after twenty years. an instru-
ment of unequalled military value.
even as the Kiel Canal, twenty years
after it's completion enabled the Ger
man squadrons to control the Baltic,
This great undertaking. should not
frighten the country which gave birth
to Ferdinand de Losseps. Let us con-
struct the Canal Of the Two Seas