Cape to Paris by Land.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1923, Page 4

Cape to Paris by Land.

(Bv Dr William AlacDonald, author of “The Conquest of the Desert”) The announcement that the Sahara Desert has been ( tossed by the Citroen expedition in caterpillar motor-cars is the greatest event in African development that has occurred during the past quarter of a century. It brings within the range of practicability the construction of a Transcontinental railway running trom the “Cape to Paris.” For many years the Cape-to-Cairo railway scheme has dominated the public mind. But the vast majority ol South Africans wish to spend their holidays and to transact their business in England. France and America. To them Egypt is mainly a land of an ancient and wonderful civilisation, while Cairo is a tourist (cntre well suited to those who have the time and money to fly from the winter fogs of London to ha.sk in the warm sunshine ol the Pyramids.

To the people of South Africa, and more especially to those who live in tlie strenuous atmosphere of the Witwatersmnd, the saving of a low days on a journey to Europe is a matter of primary importance.

Every day is of value. .Many people wish to establish business connections in the great industrial centres of Europe, others to enjoy ;t hard-earned holiday, or to visit th; if relatives at home. That is to sav. they will ultimately travel overland to London and Paris hy the .shortest possible route through uha sever rtgion il.v Tran,sum-

tincutni railway happens to he laid. Take tin the limp of Africa. Mark oil' tin Stanley I l al Is .in the Belgian Congo and the town of langitv. Draw a straight line between the.-.c two points, passing alongside Lake Chad and linking c; the r-.iuirv Desert wim till Congo lin hm,v. At 'laugh i. ill course :,j :lie, tie ia, n ■ "ill dutbl-Ic.-.s 'vo 11 1 d.'f t,. • ■ a i" A.lgectras and under liie Clianucl to London. 'Hint would nmi-; ’ins i-.l" an all-laud jniirney Irani Tahi \: miilai i to Trafalgar Square. I'll" (list; tic,. !. Ml Mtltl. V I'tliis to Tangier i-. i«;11Mi . JI.bR I miles. Tim ilistan.-c I'fo.Ji Jo in.i si. vg hi Cnjic- . a'u i i ii , :,(•(', . . .hi mil,.-. e.nd 1 It" .mi i,r.' , : be d - "it tool '.mil nil., , .ii tlic ." . hi gall. ■ in e.ti I'ont'.s. Tl ( : is no r< a.- ■ iiy i-p. ed should not 1 e mu: ,iiu im (i a. r a track lour ~i. ic;lie length. A-• ordingly. uc gel ■4 x 4 or 10*8 Tours—mi indy, 4.1 davs trom 4 v t.lcy Falls to 1 ittigier. From Johann, shtti'g to the .'Stanley Falls the distance is, roughly. g.'iH miles, and at the same rtue of sped '.mild take 72 hours— namely J days. Total fiam .Johanneshiiig to Tangier ( i days. If we add anothir 2 days (18 le urs) fur traversing Spain and France ; ! express speed it woul-i he po-si: I hy ;:iis direct ovci'iand nmic t ; '. i if. M i I'd 111 tiie ii'ims'aal ha Pan- m I I a 111 fewer than 10 days, or about Kill I lie time it now taxes hy sc.t. ileco'uiiici. .'. •: a.* (i • »(.■! '(•' C" ■( (ion - ' ■ •; t FK'H ST HA APPS.