CHANNEL TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2962, 28 December 1916, Page 3

CHANNEL TUNNEL

ADVERSE DECISION TO BE RECONSIDERED. Answering a deputation headed by Sir. Arthur Fell, M.P., which waited on him at the end of October with regard to tho Channel Tunnel scheme, Mr. Asquith said:—•. "I am of opinion that this matter in all its aspects, particularly in the light of tho new experience which wei have gained from tho war, should be reviewed by the War Committee or the Committee of Imperial Defence, and without prepossession or prejudice they should bo invited to express their judgment upon it. You cannot expect me to say more than that. 1 will see that-opportunity- is given for a full reviow of the question in the light of tho new experience wo have acquired." Wc wore bound, said Mr. Asquith, particularly- at this stage of the war, to envisage not merely present but also future conditions, and to leave untried no means to satisfy our judgment of anything that, render, a war less possible or the security of the country moro assured.

In 1913 the Committee of Imperial Defenco was asked to rcconsidor the strategic aspects of tho tunnel. . 33thougli its decision had never been mado public, the committee reported about a fortnight before the outbreak of war—in, July, 1914,—and by a major, ity it agreed with the adverse decision given in previous years, expressing the opinion that tho strategic position had not so altered as to justify a reversal of the conclusion reached by tho Govern men t in 1907. He fully recognised that the experience gained by the war was a new factor of immeasurable importance, enabling statesmen and mill- , tary and naval experts to estimate the value of tho proposal. He also recognised that the opinion of France and of our fighting soldiers in France and Flanders was strongly in favour of it. In view of this experience anil that state of opinion it was necessary thai the question should bo reconsidered.

. President Poincare is a familiar figure on tho war films, and many people'who see them are puzzled at ' his uniform. Usually he is seen in what most of U3 know as a "peaked" cap—a high-button-ed dark tunic, leather leggings, and a' cloak which resembles ' an "Inverness." It is not a very dignified uniform, and has been described in France as what' one would expect to see on a chauffeur. The explanation is that the President, as President, has no uniform,' and the dross he wears when visiting the front has been designed to balance, ovenly if possible, the civilian and military elements in his office. Though the President has no uniform, he is theoretically Commander-in-Chief of tho "Army of Land and Sea." President Poincare worked himself up from private to-lieu-tenant in the Chasseurs, but he could hardly wear his lieutenant's , uniform now. As a member of the French Academy he might, and sometimes does, assume its curious uniform and cocked hat. At civil ceremonies the President wears evening dress, whatever time of day. The Inst' President who had a chance to look distinguished was MacMahon, for ho was a- marshal in the French army and cduld wear his marshal's' uniform. .

To the Willesden Magistrate Annie Jameson, a pretty twenty-two-year-old colleen, of Ruthven, County Wicklow, unfolded a pretty little story of love and war. Annie was charged with travelling from Ireland without paying hor faro, and in tlio softest and richest brogue, and blushing furiously, she told the Magistrate that her soldier lover was coming home from the front, and had arranged to marry her at his father's home in Kent. "Mo father and mo boy differ, on religion, and me father objected to thp marriage, an go I ran away from home, I did." This explanation apparently , touched the Magistrate, for, after reading letters which showed the young couple had been engaged for over two years, and that i all arrangements had been made for the marriage, ho discharged the girl, and asked the missionary to arrange for her to be sent down to Kent. The girl left tho Court in triumph, and Alderman Pinkham instructed the missionary to let him know how the wedding passed' off.' .