CHANNEL TUNNEL

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 2

CHANNEL TUNNEL

A RETROSPECT. MILITARY OBJECTORS. London, March 27. ■ The present proposals regarding the construction of a Channel tunnel bring up-to-date the story of a project which goes back to Napoleonic times, and which gave the country a great scare fifty years ago. The construction of a Channel tunnel began bn the French side, near Calais,. in 1874, and the English company obtained Parliamentary sanction to start work the following year. However, owing to the fact that the two railway companies most nearly interested (the South-Eastern and the London, Chatham and Dover), were in a state of perpetual disagreement over the whole business, nothing was begun until 1881. But by this time some 2000 yards had been bored, a section of the community had become thoroughly alarmed, and declared, “we are clearly being delivered into the hands of our ancient enemy!” When a joint select committee was formed, members heard from General Wolseley that in the event of war with France the enemy could, in his opinion, seize the Dover end of the Channel tunnel by a coup de main, and land troops with ease. “If you have a tunnel,” said the distinguished general, "then you must also make extensive new fortifications at Dover.” As the cost both of insular security and of new fortifications seemed rather high to pay for relieving cross-Channel passengers from seasickness—the commercial aspect did not appeal to the popular mind—the construction was dropped and nothing has been done since on the old works or on new.

Right up to the war the objections were always based on military grounds. Engineers all along have passed the project as quite practicable. The geological strata beneath the English Channel includes a layer of grey chalk which is as acceptable to engineers for tunnelling purposes as is the blue clay of London. It is easy to get into, but the infiltration is considerable. Plans already in existence provide for the making of a pilot tunnel of about 10ft. in diameter, and then for the construction of two main tunnels of 20ft. in diameter. These existing plans are completely worked out, and it has been said that the engineers could start work the morning after Parliamentary powers are obtained.