The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-07-10

tbs BRITISH JUGULAR VEIN

ne outA NdAdl, PEI uoN' tAAt i'Ap9t
important lifeline Of Great Britain
and the stake OF Field Marshal
Erwin Rommels "Whirlng Der
wish" tank army advance through
Egypt Is aptly termed the "jugular
vein Of the British Empire" II cuts
through the low isthmus between
Africa and Asia and is particularly
important 10 the British because II
provides a hort cut for transport
ing soldiers from australia and
other southern hemisphere points
10 the Mediterranean theater o.
war
The canal is narrow. sun baked
ditch extending l04.5 miles through
desert and marshy lands from Port
said on the Mediterranean, south
10 Port Taufiq at the head OF the
Gulf OF Suez. The water flows at
sea level without locks. The banks
are chiefly sand and gravel, al
though concrete has been laid in
places 10 prevent erosion.
All but the largest ships can pass
through the canal. for its depth has
been increased 10 IS feet and the
minimum width is 20 yards 4 rail
road and fresh water canal parallel
the shipway.
In normal times the canal has
been the most busy waterway in the
world. with tolls 10 10 20 per cent
higher than those for the Panama
Canal.
The canal is operated by private
company with directors OF several
uationalities. under concession from
the Egyptian government. There
are 80 directors, OF which 10 are
British. Three OF these represent the
British government and seven the
shipping and commercial interests
OF the United Kingdom. The British
government invested four million
pounds in SueL Canal shares in
1875 and 10 date II has been repaid
about eight times in dividends and
interest for the original investment.
Britain acquired her interest in
the canal through the statesman
ship OF Benjamin Disraeli. Earl OF
Beaconsfield. who became prime
minister in 1858.
Dsrael, as early as 1880, had
realized the Importance OF the Suez
Canal 10 Britain. and in 1875 a
unique opportunity occurred for
gaining possession OF the waterway.
The Khedive OF Egypt found him
self compelled by his heavy debts
TO offer for sale his $4,000 shares
OF Canal stock. Disraeli. receiving
early news the shares were TO be
sold. borrowed the s20.o0o,o00 need
ed from the Rothschilds in the name
OF the British cabinet and waited
for Parliament to sanction mis- auda-
oious stroke
There seems no question that II
was the greatest service he rem.
dered TO his country during his long
career.
Before the outbreak OF the present
war Britain supplied 81 per cent OF
the total traffic through the canal,
while next in order came Dutch
French, German and Italian snip
ping. Neither the Germans nor the
Italians had any voice in the opera
ton Of the canal, one OF the most
profitable undertakings in the
world. The chief beneficisries were
the French and British govern
ments and French shareholders.
As matters stand. the British
government owns seven.siXteenths
OF the outstanding shares OF the
canal company. The French govern
ment does not own any shares but
its nationals own a large amount OF
the outstanding stock. The French
government, under normal condi
tions. taxes the dividends o. the
French stockholders. while Britain
receives dividends directly. The
dividend paid in 1887 was more than
$50 francs a share. the highest on
record. However, because OF the war
and the British blockade in the
Mediterranean, shipping through
the canal has declined 10 a com
parstively low level.
During World War /, traffic was
not 10 adversely affected. At that
time Italy was an ally OF Britain
and France and only small tonnage
OF the Central powers moved from
the Mediterranean entrance, Port
Said, TO Suez, the terminus OF tue
canal on the Red Sea. The Allies
then controlled the Mediterranean
and traffic moved unmolested.
Port Said is cosmopolitan city
OF more than 125.000 population
where babel OF tongues from port
ers. peddlers and guides always
greeted peacetime tourists. On the
jetty stands a bronze statue e
Count Ferdinand de Lesseps. th'
far sighted Frenchman who fos
tered construction OF the canal from
1859 10 1860.
The northern half OF the cana
Is almost a straight ditch. Al thu
hslfway point is lsmsilia, an oasi'
whose white. flst-roofed houses ar
surrounded by gardens OF roses anC
many other fiowe-s- The -teS n
which the British began 10 garrison
few years ago. stands on TN
shore OF Lake Timsah. the Lake O
the Crocodiles" through which tn
canal passes.
That lake is one Of an lgregula
chain in the southern half Of tn
canal which act as an expansion
chamber" TO take up the flow OF tn
four-foot tide from the Red Sea.
From the town OF Suez. near Por
Taufiq at the southern end. can b,
seen the mountains OF the Sina
Peninsula. one OF which is said Z
be the Nj. Sinai OF the Bible. II va
near the southern terminus of tn
~. L.. .ELIA-o. - La .