The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-11-17
GIBRALTAR STRAITS
BORE SPOLTICALA AS
WELL AS TRADE IDEA.
Would Be Invaluable in War for
Transport of Troops Into
Morocco
ROUTE IS 10 MILES LONG
Wells Are Being Sunk to 1850
Feet to Test Underlying
Rock on Both Sides
IS 10 MILES LONG
Nv O M. JOHNSON

rarifa, Spain, Nov. 17.-(R-The
Spanish government commission
which has been testing the feasibility
of q tunnel under the Straits Of Glib
raltar to connect Spain and north
Africa, is beginning to believe the
project is less fantastic than 1t
sounds.
Luis de Pena, head of the commits
sion, has said that if the final analy-
sis proves favorable, the engineering
difficulties would not be so great as
the problem of raising enough money
to finance such an undertaking. He
estimated for the Associated Press
that several hundred millions OF dol
lars would be required.
1t. Col. Pedro ~JevenOiS, another
member Of the commission, has be-
come an enthusiastic supporter of
the scheme. He believes that con-
s~truction Of the tunnel Is only a
question Of time.
Project IS Years Old
The project was conceived about
IS years ago by a French engineer.
Laurent de Villedeuil. It has since
been considered by engineers Of
Spain, England. France and some
ether countries but in each case,
when tests were made, there was
wide divergence of opinion as to &C
tual experimental results. The pres
ent commission was appointed by the
Spanish government in an endeavor
to resolve these doubts, one way or
the other.
The commission laid out It's work
in two main fields. First, geological
strata were to be explored and Sec
ond, data was to be assembled re-
garding water conditions In the
Straits.
In testing the rocks, two wells are
being sunk. One is q short distance
outside of this city while the other
is about Is miles away on the African
side but within the bounds Of Spanish
Morocco. Whether the tunnel, If
: constructed, will be a direct path be-
tween these two points remains to be
seen as ~unfavorable currents and
ground formations might force a de-
Walton.
Water Now To BE Tested
The we'll near here has reached a
depth of 300 meters 1884 feet) but
will eventually be sunk to 1880 feet.
The African shaft is to be identical
and is being constructed by a Belgian
company although all work Is un-
der a Spanish government subsidy.
Geological experts will compare the
strata tapped by the two wells and
if they are identical the conclusion
will be that the same ground under
lies the straits. Surface tests al
ready have indicated similarity.
A boat with modern sounding ap-
paratus is being rugged in Copenha-
gen to test the depths and currents OF
the straits. 1t is believed by Spanish
engineers, following first tests, that
the maximum depth of the straits is
about 1900 feet. TITS Is considerably
less than was formerly believed and
should prove a favorable factor II
construction work is ever commenced
The tunnel, according to various
schemes, has been proposed to in
clude a highway, pedestrian walks
and railroad tracks. The problem Of
gauges of rails arises in this connec.
ton since Spanish lines differ from
those in Africa and France and 8
conformation would be necessary.
But Colonel Jevenois does not be-
lieve the difficulties are great beyont
the tremendous cost of financing
Jevenois said that Spain looks for
ward to the day when Europe ant
Africa will be linked"
Expenses Big Obstacle
sNIfA y.oo1i1n that thu kn~n M,
be built only after tremendous worl
and expense" he added, but will
its vital importance as a commercial
undertaking, other powers probabl.
would be interested in it. OF course
Spain, If possible, would wish it a
q purely national affair"
Such q tunnel, he feels, woul,
strengthen SPANS power in the Med
iterranean and would prove almos
invaluable in war as q means Of troo]
transportation. The risk Of attacI
by submarines or airplanes would b
removed, he says, and the tunnt
would be virtually impregnable t
depth bombs and mines.
Government officials feel the tub
would bolster their north Africa
holdings and provide Spain with add
ed impetus In competing with French
British and Italian influence there.
General Damaso Berenguer, pre-
mier OF Spain and former SPANS
Moroccan high commissioner, wrot
In a book by Colonel Jevenois this
the tunnel would make SPANS mil
tary campaigns in north Afric
really fruitful"