With the end of the land, sea and air drills, the Taiwan Strait, the 200-kilometer ( 125-mile ) strip of water separating the island and mainland China, fell quiet for the first time in 18 days . Ships and planes could resume normal travel without altering course.
22.
The rock was extremely hard and the height of the surface above the tunnel prevented the sinking of shafts, so that tunnelling could only proceed from the two ends . 1, 100 men were engaged on the work, and compressed air drills, then something of a novelty, and blasting, were employed.
23.
With the end of the land, sea and air drills, the Taiwan Strait, the strip of water separating the island and mainland China, fell quiet for the first time in 18 days . Tensions in the strait have been at their highest since 1958, when China shelled Taiwanese-controlled Quemoy and Matsu islands.
