Show FRANCO BRITISH TUNNEL PROPOSED I By L. L Harper Leech Leech 0 W WASHINGTON ASHINGTON March larch 13 Brit Brit Britain am ain n may burrow under the bottom of or orthe the sea Bea to beat the submarine Representatives Representatives Rep Rep- of big American contractors contractors con con- tractors here have broached the sub subS subject of or building the channel tunnel to connect Britain and France The project pro has evidently passed the talk stage because American tunnel builders build build- builders ers are angling for the job Surveys Sun and plans have been prepared prepared pre pre- pared for over o half a century by French and British engineers There has lias never been any doubt as to the plans plan's practicability No Now the shipping shipping ship ship- ping shortage makes it probable the work will be pushed as a war measure Shipping necessary to maintain the communications of or the British army in France has been estimated all the Ule wa way from to tons Construction of or the tunnel would release re rc- re- re lease leas all aU these ships for hauling wheat from America Argentina or Australia The work of or loading and unloading army freight at the tho British and French ports would be done a away way with and the movement of or shells and food speeded up The ocean voyage from America would be shortened also as ns ships could land at western British ports and load direct into cars which would go right to the American front In Lorraine It is believed a track six-track tunnel is in contemplation It would be thirty miles long bored through solid chalk which underlies the tho channel from Dover Dover Dover Do Do- ver to Calais The first attempt to bore boro tho the tunnel tun nel net was made In 1868 when a company com com- company pany was formed ormed and French consent obtained but Britain vetoed It out of ot fear tear of oC Invasion in by b- surprise In 1883 the plan was again rejected |