Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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I' ci? AJ a preliminary to our tranfit of the canal, an oh- ferfuation platform had to he huilt. L. to R.: D Reynoldf, FPC, R. D. Hood, DCFN,' G. W. McCrary DCFA and F I Clarke DCFN, engaged in it: con Jtrziction. RIGHT: The Captain, Exec, and Navigator, with telephone talker, on the completed platform, daring transit of the canal. One of OW fiffl 1li6 ll'J of the Suez Canal. On fb' 'ight Cdtt he :een Afia, on the left, Africa. P w. k I

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The canal, the longest in the world at that time, presented little actual difficulty in its digging, except a short distance through soft stone. It really amounted in places to deepening a channel in lagoons and lakes already existent. The company found itself in finan- cial difliculty many times during the progress of the work and in 1875 the Khedive of Egypt decided to sell the large number of shares he then held. The English government stepped in and bought these shares, gaining virtual control of the company. This was one of Disraeli's boldest acts to promote his policy of imperialism. In the early days when De Lesseps was selling shares for 500 francs each, neither England, Russia, Austria nor the United States would sub- scribe to the venture. The English looked with fear on the project as they felt it would work a great hard- ship on English shipping. The undertaking, however, has justified itself, as the shares held by the British Government, for which less than 20 million dollars was paid, have already returned more than eight times this amount in interest and earnings. Normally, more than half of the ships passing through the canal are of British registry and the canal has been one of the greatest value to British shipping. The management of the canal is under the direction of a board of which the French have the largest number of members, so that the control is practically French, although the French government does not actually own any interest. The concession provides that the rights of the company are to expire in 1968 when the canal and all accessories will revert to Egypt. The vision of De Lesseps has been more than justified. The journey from London to Bombay, formerly a tedious and dangerous trip of 10,870 miles, was at once shortened to 6,307. Since 1887, ships have been permitted to steam through the canal at night as well as by day, and the average time of passage is 13 hours. Mail ships are given the right of way. The trip through the canal aboard the Tarawa was one not soon to be forgotten, and we like to remember that we were not the only ones who enjoyed it. As we passed through, Egyptians, Britains fboth civil and naval personnelj, and a few Americans, were along the way to cheer us on. Once when we passed a Dutch troop transport headed for the Far East, troops manned the rail to give the Tarawa a rousing cheer. PP

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