1937-07-19 — Page 11

THE CHIN

COMPRESSED

AIR DIGGING

NEW THAMES TUNNEL

Steady Progress Reported On £3,200,000 Scheme

ENGINEERS'

TASK UNDER RIVER

EVERY MINUTE 16,000 CUBIC FT. OF AIR WILL BE PUMPED INTO EACH OF THE TWO SHAFTS OF THE NEW DARTFORD-PURFLEET TUN- NEL UNDER THE THAMES, WHICH IS NOW UNDER CON- STRUCTION,

The engineers engaged on the scheme-which will provide a link between the North and South of the river-have dug down into the earth as far as they can by ordin- ary "free air" methods. Further excavation must now be done by compressed air..

The engineers have already work- peat ed down through layers of and clay, chalk and gravel. At 40ft. below the surface they found por- tions of trees, an indication of how, in the course of ages, the ground level of the Thames estuary has been | ¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶|||||||||-||||23|4|||||||FR|36|¶¶¶|14|33| built up.

Two Shafts

Work on the tunnel is progressing steadily and two shafts, each 90ft. deep, are now being built, one the Kent bank of the river and the other on the Essex side.

on

When operations began last April the first 15ft. were plain sailing- almost mere pick and shovel work. Then a giant ring weighing about four tons, its lower edge sharpen- ed was placed in the "hole," and great cast-iron sections, which form the lining of the shaft, were piled on it.

The Duchess of Kent and the Castle in an open landau to attend

Spain Forbids Bull Fights

Valencia, To-day. The Republican Government has decided to prohibit bull fights throughout the territory under its control, according to a statement to the press by the director of the police depart- ment who added that all Minis- ters already approved a decree to this effect which will short- be published. Trans-

Ocean.

As the earth from the cen~3EUDAIQUINTERE tre of the ring was removed, grav- ity forced the "cutter" down.

Steel girders loaded with five-ton weights were placed on the cutting ring until it bore a weight of 240 tons and a depth of 50ft. were reached.

5 Cwt. at One Mouthful

This system can no longer be used and further excavation must be done by compressed air. Plant with a capacity for pumping 6,000 cubic ft. of air a minute is in posi- tion. Additional plant capable of pumping in 16,000 cubic ft. of air every minute will soon be in action.

Grabs with jaws which bite out five cwt. of earth at each mouthful are busy every day.

When the two shafts have been completed, a pilot tunnel over 900 yards long will be begun. It is around this tunnel that the actual Dartford-Furfleet tunnel will be constructed. The excavations for the two shafts and the pilot tunnel alone

the removal of about

21mic yards of earth.

RUSSO - TURKISH RELATIONS

in

Moscow, To-day. Considerable improvement Russo-Turkish relations is expect- ed to result as signing of an agree- ment between the two nations here yesterday.

The agreement was necessitated by the many frontier disputes that have occurred during past years, in which Kurds have played a pro- minent part, and provides a method of settling any such disputes in the future.

The agreement was signed by the Turkish Ambassador and the Soviet Commissar for Defence: Trans- Ocean.

WIRELESS PHONE TO BRITAIN

Shanghai, To-day.

connect- The wireless telephone ing the British Isles and China has The pilot tunnel, which it is esti-been tested with great satisfaction. mated will cost £300,000, will pro-It is learned that the telephone ser- vide information as to the strata vice will be open to the public ear-

ly next month. Da-Dao. under the river.

The main tunnel will provide a

riageway 20ft wide with paths The P. and O. s.ș. Rajputana left either side, and will be rather Singapore for this Port on the 17th than a mile-long. The cost instant with the outward English the whole scheme will be about Mails, and is due here on the 21st £3,200,000.

instant at about 9 a.m.

1

Duchess of Norfolk leaving Windsor the Ascot Races...........

GERMANY FINES

BRITISH

AIRMEN

The four Britis

airmen who were detained in Frankfurt for four days, while the photographs they had taken during an air tour of Europe were developed and in- spected, have been sentenced to fines totalling nearly £80.

The fines were paid immediately and the party left by air for Eng- land.

BISLEY OPENS their departure from Vienna.

London, To-day. Scotland Won the Mackinnon Challenge Trophy at the Bisley Rifle Meeting to-day with an ag gregate of 1,002 points.

Runners-up were Canada (996 points) and Australia (925 points)

The Junior Mackinnon Trophy was won by the Falkland Islands.

-Reuter.

Callung

The offence for which the fines were imposed was that the men had in their possession four cameras which, in the opinion of the court, they might have used to take photo- graphs over German territory, as the cameras were not sealed on

It was not contended that any such photographs had actually been taken. Mr. A. H. Abbott, an instructor employed by Air Service Training Limited, a civil flying school at Hamble, near Southampton who was in charge of the party had to pay 125. His three pupils, Mr. A. G. Nicholson, Mr. T M. Walters, and Mr. J. H. White,

e were fined 10s 0d each, while coats had also to be paid.

Callum

Perfect Scots Wh

FAMOLIS SINCE

Obtainable at all Clubs, Hotels & Wine Stores

Sole Agents:~

GANDE, PRICE & CO., LTD. St. George's Building, No: Ice House Street, Tel. 20135.

Hong Kong

£16