Page:The battle of the channel tunnel and Dover Castle and forts.djvu/16

10 English and perhaps French; without ever receiving one Sixpenny Piece or any advantage from it; whether we remained the British Nation, the Land of Liberty, or became a Province of France!!

It is also a rebellious act, in making a breach through that natural Bulwark which Nature has given us; and which, by the blessing of Divine Providence, has hitherto been the means of our immediate protection, even more than our gallant Navy and Army: for it was by a storm that the Spanish Armada was destroyed; it was by a gale that the Fleet of the First Napoleon was worsted on the Coast of Ireland, which he purposed to invade!

Finally, after the opinion of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington upon the altered phasis of things in respect of the Channel in consequence of the naval use of Steam, it will, I trust, be unnecessary to point out, that unless there be the permanent Force, as premised, in and about the mouth of and approaches to, a Channel Tunnel as proposed, it would be easy, at an early hour of any dark night, for a sufficient French Force to land near it, and take possession of it, by surprise; and at once to telegraph to Head Quarters for the inevitable Expedition from Cherbourg to proceed at once and effect a landing upon our shores!

I will, however, with your permission, state further, in conclusion, that four more recent inventions, than the use of Steam as a motive-power for ships, have very materially affected the relative status of great military and naval Powers, to the very great advantage of the former. They are Railways, Telegraphy, Torpedoes and Dynamite!!!!

1st Railways. The Emperor Napoleon III. considered that he had avenged the loss of 500,000 French Troops, incurred by the First Napoleon's Expedition to Russia, by the like loss to the Russian Forces in crossing the Steppes en route to the Crimea: but a Railway brings the Military Steam-Hammer in Column, without loss of power, and with its initial velocity maintained, down upon the head of the nail!

In Great Britain we have, at present at least, an insular position. Poets picture "Our Sea-girt Isle!" It is Nature's Gift. This blessing and advantage, as far at least as still operative, such Enthusiasts would sacrifice to their greed by the making of a Channel Tunnel; and would place a constant and inciting temptation in our military neighbour's way!

2ndly Telegraphy. The effective use of this invention for military purposes fully illustrates the adage, "Knowledge is Power!" But the