SIR GARNET WOLSELEY ON THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1042, 7 April 1882, Page 4

SIR GARNET WOLSELEY ON THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

The following is an account of an inteiview with Sir Carnet Wolseloy in reference to the military aspect of tho contemplated Channel tunnel. In reply to a question whether he considered the military danger of the tunnel would outweigh its possible social and commercial advantages, Sir Garnet said Any tunnel is objectionable on account of the extreme danger it would entail upon England. Hitherto our insular position has protected us. and the sheet of water surrounding us has served to ward off any danger, for upon it our navy could float and defend oui- coasts from attack. Against an advance through a tunnel our fleet would bo powerless. A tunnel ones made, its approaches on this side might bo seized by a coup He main by an enemy, who could at the same time take care to get at once into his posse-aion all the electrical apparatus planned to destroy the tunnel or render it useless for a time. Such a seisure might be carried out by a force of 2000 men any night, who could suddenly pounce upon the approaches on this side. If that were done by some hold leader it would at once place us at tho mercy of the enemy, for in four or five hours afterwards 20,000 men could be sent through the tunnel to their support, and before daylight tho tunnel would have completely passed into the enemy’s possession, and could be used as a fete de pout from which a great army could set forth naainst London, and with the seisure of London ends the existence of England’s power. Replying to other questions, Sir Garnet Wolaeley said that he did not believe that the tunnel would increase our commercial relations-; nor judging by the war between the North and South in the United States, and the Franco-German war and other wars during the past thirty years, did he believe that facilities of communication would lessen the risk of war breaking out. Sir Garnet holds that tho danger to be feared is an attack in the nature of a surprise while the country was in a state of profound peace. It would be imposible to take precautions for blowing up or flooding the tunnel at a minute’s notice without those precautions being known on the other side ; while as to the risk to the men sent to seize the tunnel, any Government possessing a large array would think nothing of risking the lives of '2,000 men to secure the-control it.