bear in mind that the danger may
recur, and that the remedies in the text (the only remedies ever
proposed) have still to be adopted. They are the sufficient
encouragement of agriculture, the making of adequate Channel tunnels, and
the provision of submarine merchantmen, which, on the estimate of Mr.
Lake, the American designer, could be made up to 7,000 ton burden at an
increased cost of about 25 per cent. It is true that in this war the
Channel tunnels would not have helped us much in the matter of food, but
were France a neutral and supplies at liberty to come via Marseilles from
the East, the difference would have been enormous.

Apart from food however, when one considers the transports we have
needed, their convoys, the double handling of cargo, the interruptions of
traffic from submarines or bad weather, the danger and suffering of the
wounded, and all else that we owe to the insane opposition to the Channel
tunnels, one questions whether there has ever been an example of national
stupidity being so rapidly and heavily punished. It is as clear as
daylight even now, that it will take years to recover all our men and
material from France, and that if the tunnel (one will suffice for the
time), were at once set in hand, it might be ready to help in this task
and so free shipping for the return of the Americans. One thing however,
is clear. It is far too big and responsible and lucrative an undertaking
for a private company, and it should be carried out and controlled by
Government, the proceeds being used towards the war debt.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.

_August_ 24_th_,
CROWBOROUGH.

I. DANGER! {1}
BEING THE LOG OF CAPTAIN JOHN SIRIUS

It is an amazing thing that the English, who have the reputation of being
a practical nation, never saw the danger to which they were exposed. For
many years they had been spending nearly a hundred millions a year upon
their army and their fleet. Squadrons of Dreadnoughts costing two
millions each had been launched. They had spent enormous sums upon
cruisers, and both their torpedo and their submarine squadrons were
exceptionally strong. They were also by no means weak in their aerial
power, especially in the matter of seaplanes. Besides all this, their
army was very efficient, in spite of its limited numbers, and it was the
most expensive in Europe. Yet when the day of trial came, all this
imposing force was of no use whatever, and might as well have not
existed