DUTCH FORTIFICATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1011, 29 December 1910, Page 5

DUTCH FORTIFICATIONS.

RUSSIAN ATTITUDE. v By Assticiat-ion-Coryrielil. St. Petersburg, December 27. The well-known St. Petersburg newspaper "Novoe Vremya" says that Russia is not directly interested in tho Dutch fortifications, and is able to view them from an objective standpoint. Tho paper declares that Holland is acting under German pressure, and that it would be natural if tho Powers guaranteeing Belgian neutrality entered a protest.

Writing of_ the re-arming of the Dutch ports, Mr. William Maxwell said recently, in the "Daily Mail":— To Germany the advantages to be gained by breach of Dutch neutrality' are immensely great. The efficiency of a Nary in war is dependent on the number and capacity of its bases and on its lines 01' communication. Possession of the Dutch coast would greatly extend the . German base of naval operations, for its harbours and roadsteads, of which no fewer than nine are navigablo at low water at depths varying from lGf't. to 26ft., ■ form a continuation of the German coast toward the south-west. These! strategic advantages would undoubtedly bo a great temptation to-Ger-many in the event of war with Great Britain. And the temptation is increased l by tho fact that the land frontiers 'of Holland aro open to Germany. It is true that direct approach from Germany on the east is barred bv two lines of defences. The advanced line, known as the Grebbe line; extends from tho Zuyder Zee through Amersfort south to tho River Waal. Tho second and main line-of defence begins, at Ymuiden 011 the Uuyder Zeo, and passing through Utrecht proceeds to Botkum and crosses the Waal River. Although Holland can put into the field 200,000 trained soldiers these land defences aro dependent on inundations, and it is questionable whether the Dutch would make the necessary sacrifice with the promptjtude demanded by tho more threat of invasion by Germany. The utmost that could be expected, from Holland would be to delay and harass an army advancing from the east.