Britain's First Underwater Telephone Link With America. the final splicing of the 1,940 nautical miles of cable, stretching back to Newfoundland, with the shore end from the terminal point at Oban in Scotland is made aboard the Monarch. This operation took several hours and called for great skill and patience. When completed the joint was thoroughly tested and finally checked by X-rays. December 1, 1955. (Photo by British Official Photograph).