THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1875, 8 October 1913, Page 8

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

FRENCH PRESS VIEW. A GUARANTEE AGAINST INVASION. The case for a Channel Tunnol is put with much force and originality by tho "Journal des Debats" from the standpoint of tho naval competition which England has to meet from Germany. The necessity of a strong Navy, it says, is evident in tho caso of nations which have built up a great colonial Empire, but Germany's naval development, though it is Hot without profit to her export trado and her diplomacy, would not justify tho enormous expenditure sho is incurring to place herself in tho front rank did not tho possibility of a naval victory over England oll'er a gigantic bait to her ambition. The reason for this, remarks tho "Debats," is that England has no great military i'orco behind her maritime mask. A fleet which has been destroyed' or which no longer counts cannot bo reconstructed in tho space that a>war lasts. On land a nation struggles, so to speak, with its wholo body and all its blood. It has to be overmastered. in detail before tho conqueror can impose his law. But at sea a nation lights in a coat of mail. Once the armour is shattered there is an end of fighting, and tho victor has but to gather the booty, commercial, colonial, financial, and diplomatic. But supposing, says tho "Debats"— which is not the case —that after a naval triumph the invader would find on English soil an army such as would render his linal success doubtful, everything is changed. The premium put upon naval hegemony loses tho greater portion of its value. This is what would happen if England wore to make up its mind to universal military servico. "But," points out tho "Debats," "tho same result would be secured, and, at less expense, by a tunnel connecting Franco and England, and enabling the two friendly armies to concentrate at tho point attacked by tho common enemy wherever it ho. The first-effect of tho tunnol should be to discourage naval competition by depriving it of its principal stakes."

Such, adds the French Conservative organ, is in our opinion the truo military consequenco of tlie question for Englishmen: Not ail improbable chance of invasion, but a guaranteo against invasion. A surprise invasion is not possible by an access so fragile, so easy to guard. Far more probable would bo surprise by sea, against which the English consider themselves, secure solely bv tho watchfulness of fleet. Tho only military itse of a tunnel' is a friendly and concerted invasion of men, material, help, food. Tho day the tunnel is built England will remain an island as regards everything it.pleases her to reject; slio will be linked to the Continent as regards the rest, and particularly in regard to that element of strength of which slio lias need. Tho first advantage of tho tunnel, says tho "Debats" in conclusion, will be that England, by ceasing to present the weaknesses of an insular Power, will liavo at last taken the 6ole effective measure to check in Europe the folly of naval armaments.

A largo gathering of solicitors, Justices of file Peace, public officers, and oiiicers of tlio Justice Department at the Nelson Courthouse last week bade farewell to Mr. E. C. Kelling, Clerk of tho Court, ,who is. retiring from tho Civil Service 011 superannuation. Mr. Kelling's connection with tho Public Service dates back to May, 1868, when, on leaving Nelson College, ho entered tho Survey and Public Works Department of the Provincial Government n9 cadet. He was later transferred to tho West Coast, and in 1869 joined the Justice and Mines Department, being stationed at various places on the Coast as Clerk of tho Court and Mining Registrar up to 1874. 11l- that year ho returned to Noleon as Provincial Accountant, Clerk to the Executive Council, and Secretary to the Superintendent. In 1876 tho Provincial Governments were abolished, and whilo the adjustments consequent upon the inauguration of tlie new system were "being carried out, Mr. Kelling's services) woro retained. I.n September, 1877, ho was retired from tho service on compensation, . and in tho same year he was appointed to the Justice Department under the General Government. For several years Mr Kelling was Clerk of the Court, Mining Registrar, and Land Officer at Aliaura, Westland, and subsequently for 20 years Clerk of' tho Court at West-port. Nine years ago Mr. Kelling was transferred to Nelson as Clerk of tho Court and Deputy-Regis-trar of tlie Supreme Court, which positions ho has held up till to-day. !

The reissue, in cheaper form, of novels nnd other light literature tho popularity of which has been attested by tho publication of several editions at tho usual prico, is becoming quite an important featuro of latter-day publishing enterprise. The discerning purchaser wlio is willing to bide his time and is not consumed by a feverish desire to read fiction only that is ' 'hot from tho press" is thus ablo to get together quito an admirable little library of light literature for a most moderate expenditure. Among recent Hodder and Slioughton reprints, copies of which are to hand, per S. and W. Mac-, kay, are well-printed, neatly-bound editions of those deservedly popular stories, "The Harvester" and "The Girl from tlie Limberlost," by tho wellknown American author, Gene Stratton Porter, and that, highly diverting melange of travel notes and fiction, "Jolly in Germany," by Arthur E. Copping, author of "Gotty and tho Guvnor." Re. cent additions to Hodder and Stoughton's sevenpenny library are A. E. W, Mason's dramatic story, "The Watchers," and Mrs. Alfred Sedgwick's AngloGerman story, "Tho Grasshoppers." A special meed of praise is due to tho publishers for the exceptionally neat and tasteful binding of tho two last-men-tioned volumes.

Plentiful supplies of different varieties of fish made pricos cheap at the Municipal Market yesterday morning, and business was brisk. Tho fish disposed of included a large quantity of whitebait. ,

Messrs, J. H. Bcthuiie and Co. are holding an important' property auction at their rooms to-day, Wednesday, at 2.80 p.m. They are submitting' four fiveroomed houses in Elizabeth Street, on freehold laud, bringing in a rental of >£208 per annum; also, a leasehold property In Moleisworth Street, on which stands "Aorangi House." Under instructions from tho Registrar of tlie Supreme Court, they are submitting a property fronting the Slain Karori Road and Creswiek I!<1,1(1, adjacent to the Ivarori tram line, 3 acres 2 roods 2 perches in area, on which stand two dwellings, each of four rooms. Details appear in the advertisement, and any further information may ho obtained on'application to Messrs. Chapman, Skorrett, Tripp, and Blair, solicitors, or tho auctioneers.