THE THREATENED "DITCH."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 26, 1 April 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE THREATENED "DITCH."

WON™™* OF THE SUEZ CANAL. The attempted seizure of the Suez Canal bv the Turks calls attention to this wonderful artificial waterway which connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea thus severing the two continents of Africa and Asia. It has rightly been likened to a great artery, or nerve, that connects Great Britain with her Indian and other Far Eastern possessions'. Its seizure by an enemy- in time of war would certainly be a serious blow to our prestige, not only in Egypt but also in India. , Although the Egyptian Government has always recognised the possibility or it; attack in time of war there is not a single fort along its whole one hundred miles of length. The fact is between the canal and the Turco-Egyptian frontier there lies some 125 miles of desert, and this desert has always been regarded as the canal's greatest protection To transport a large army over it would occupy several days, so a surprise attack from this quarter is virtually impossible. The military opinion in Egypt has alwavs been that destroyers or small cruisers patrolling the waterway, assisted by troops from the garrison at Cairo, which is connected with the canal by rail, would be able to defeat any overland attack, while it must be remembered that with the command of the sea it would be possible to intercept sucli an armv and cut off its retreat, a very serious "position to any force in desert country. Naturallv, from a purely engineering point of view the Suez Canal cannot be compared in magnitude to the Panama enterprise, though it was nevertheless a darinf and wonderful piece of work. In his memoirs, M. do Lesseps, its creator has told ns that the project demanded o f him five years' study and mediation in his closet," four years of investigation on the spot, and eleven years of patient toil, not to mention an expenditure of some £17,000,000. The initial difficul ties were certainly immense. An army of 30,000 labourers had to be collected and housed and fed in a wilderness. In deed, the fresh water for the workmen had to be brought on the backs of camels from places as far distant as Cairo. To make the channel, 80,000,000 cubic yards of rock, earth and sand had to be removed and carted away. During its course of 100 miles it passes through no fewer than five lakes. Before the water was let in, however, they were virtually dried up depressions. Here it is interesting to note that the Panama authorities sent a commission to Suez before the opening of their waterway to study the workings of the African project, and it is understood that conditions similar to those providing at Suez have been adopted at Panama. Like everything else, it required experience to find out the most efficient way of handling the large and valuable ships that the Suez channel specially catered for. For instance, it was not until 1886, some seventeen years after the opening of the waterway, that ships could pass through the canal at night. This difficulty was got over by making each ship "illumine her own course by carrying a powerful searchlight capable of spreading light 4,000 feet aheadThose vessels which do not possess such lights can hire them on entering the waterway at- Port Said and return them on leaving at Suez. The first ship that effected a free passage by night was the P. and O. steamer Carthage, which accomplished the journey in eighteen hours. Hitherto vessels had taken anywhere from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to cover the 100 miles. To many the rules governing ships while making the passage may seem decidedly strange. Written information as to his ship must be handed in by each captain—her name, nationality, draught, and port of sailing and destination, as well as his own name, and that of owners and chanterers, and the number of passengers and crew. Warships, too, have to supply a copy of their muster roll. Naturally nothing must be thrown overboard, especially nshes and cinders; also nothing is to be picked up, notice of any article lost overboard being left at the nearest station. No guns shall be fired, and no steam-whistles blown except in cases of extreme danger. One rule also states that no burial is permitted in the canal banks.

Ordinary steamers make the passageof 100 miles in sixteen to seventeen hours. There is nothing particularly exciting in the trip. Entering at Port Said (where considerable improvements ore now being carried out in the erection of new docks, wharves, and railway stations), one first notices the trees .and shrubs which are now being planted along the banks to protect them. After passing through the Ballah Lakes, Lake Tfmsah, some fortyeight miles from Port Said, is entered. Here is situated Ismailia, a flourishing city boasting of its theatres, hotels, clubs, and restaurants, where the officials of the canal and the pilots reside. Before the coming of the canal it was o small Arab village. On each side of the narrow waterway stretches the boundless desert. Here and there are pointed out places of Biblical interest. Now and again, too, one catches sight of a caravan of laden camels patiently wending their way along the routes which have been in use for carrying merchandise in this way for thousands of years. A fine plan for giving safety to all ships in transit is in operation, much resembling the well-known block-sys-tem. The onmpany control the departure and entrance of all ships, the order of precedence beintr wholly in their hands, by which not only safety but the speed of mails is insured. Xo ship may demand immediate passage for any reason, but preference is Ljivcn to regular rr.ail steamers under Government control. The canal U Mocked out in divisions, and at tin l head office in Ismailia a dummy model shows the exact moving position of everything; afloat. Xo vessel may proceed until the way is clear, and a complete system of telephonic signals injures this hoine; done. Along the bank' are small stations, twelve between Port Said and Suez, cneli furnished with a It it'll masthead, from which red and yellow balls by dav, and coloured lights by niirht, announce to each vessel whether to proceed Ihrnuirn the next division, or to "t'o-np" and wait for one to r rrt !, v from the direction. Sl-lns coniinf in (he R.irne direction are not allowed to mso one •mother. Tv,-ev fire nr siv miles thorn is n short wi'leni"" or "":••■,•" uherc Vfeonls ni n,- f\,,f With nil these do oernsinnnHv nec.-r nnd -Inns l.i~n -mlc and l.nM , ln |i, o f ,. o m„ r.„. ,i.,,., T 0 remove lVr : r> „., '-.. ,1,„ (".,,,.,1 p„,„_ <i«.r.' mm'r>+nins fir. elil.nv. <., rr .,l „„..+_ 1- r.„1,. n „„ fln.f, nnd. -rnnornl'v .-•>, ol,;„,, sunken hm r .• iJrT.-l -■ roisod 0 <>. tm ns lin"-e- •■ if U ~„,,-: n - ♦'„ 1,1... !■•« n roc-! dangerous ~,,.1 ,rfr,,.,,ii n-0.-T- ~-.. „„ nn r ,„,.f ,1,„ 1 „.,!-.. i,„ ,i„ rio ,. p ,i 0f ,i,„ r.- . n-„., ■„.! si ;.,.. M.nf nnss thrntlfrh M>n :-, -v "»ir over r,er r „, ? 1 0.. |l,„ T?.-;f :.l, Hi-'. Wh, " Hrs< mil .' "■•• ~.,"■•' 1.-.rl -. imlfor-vi flenfh e f ">'- "1 f «* 71 ■• „a... qi f on » ,!,,„.. mq f,...) „ ;,i„ ~i M,r. !, o t*o.,i n„! 100 fenf ..I fl,n •.-.,!..,. level. T( ;. cM] !„,;„, r ,1,.„.,„,.,„] „,..! - <1 ' • rvo.-l- tt.n rvns« ~.v*0.,1-u „. n ,.!,:.,„.... ; a r .,ii,„i r,,, n pn _ f:M= ; l-- in-* tho Inr-resl 0r.,1 „-<•* powerful dredging anna rat us ever built

is to be found at work in this waterway. From a financial point of view the scheme has been a complete success. Every year the revenue from passing ships' amounts to between £4,000,001) and £5,000,000. For some years past shareholders have received dividends at the rate of 25 per cent. Indeed, Suez Canal shares are much sought after, especially since the convention of 1888, which was signed by the leading Powers of Europe, which rendered the waterway exempt from blockade, and agreed to the proposal that all vessels, whether aimed or not, be allowed to make the passage in peace or war. It was in 1*75 that the British Government by the purchase for £3,976,5*2 of the 176,602 £2O original shares held by the Khedive obtained joint control over the canal with France, and its protection in time of war would naturally fall upon these two Powers.