A SEA FORTRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2243, 1 September 1914, Page 6

A SEA FORTRESS

in advanco of tho open Bea zone of Gcimany. Consequently; its gjuna are able to out very effectively mto the manoeuvring field of a hostile fleet, while they would give an invaluable support to a German fleet issuing from the month of tho Elbe or from Wilhelmshavcn, or retiring to 0110 of thoso | points. Lastly, all merchantmen going to or coming from Hamburg must pass eloso to Heligoland. Consequently, Heligoland makes the blockade of Hamburg difficult, and facilitates tho protection of merchant shipping going to or issuing from, that point. _ Thus Heligoland servos at the same time as an advanced point of observation, and as a powerful floating battery which admirably covers tho most vulnerable points of Germiany in tho North Sea. fhe foregoing makes it clear that Heligoland' is a strategical point of considerable importance, and that those British I 'statesmen wno light-heartedly handed it over to Germajiy in exchange for some concessions in Africa, believing it to be of no value, made o very bad bargain. A Diplomatic Triumph. Nominally, tho cession of Heligoland was an unimportant detail in ail AngloGerman treaty dated May 7,1890, which purported to fix the boundaries between the respective spheres of influence of Germany and Groat Britain in >>cst Africa. In actual. fact, it was a di- . plomatic triumph for Germany, the realisation of a project, evolved by Bismarck, upon which Gorman diplomatic efforts, had long been bent, and to whioh British statesmen were strangely ibliiid. Bismarck regarded tho possession of Heligoland as an essential factor in the policy which expression in the construction of tho Kiel Canal, and played' his cards accordingly. Count Munster, the German Ambassador, Taised the subject in 1883, and submitted to Lord Granville (British Foreign Minister) that Heligoland was a i>lace of no importance to Britain in its then state, whereas it would be of immense importance to Germany, to Britain, and ,to the world, if it wore made into ji good harbour of refuge. Bjsmarck wishod to cut a canal into the Baltic which would also be a great advantage _to Britain as the most powerful maritime nation of the world, but 'Heligoland, which would, of course, be always open to British ships, would be a necessary key to such a plan. Count Munster added that it was as good as impossible that Germany and England should ever bo at war. Strangely enough (although at the timo Lord Granville, after consultation with hiu chief, Mr. Gladstone, decided upon "a dilatory course"), the German presentation of the position ultimately carried tho day, and Heligoland was handed over in Spite of objections by the Admiralty. That the naval authorities were fully aware of the strategical importance of the rock stronghold is abundantly clear. "The Point of tho Sword> "The late Admiral Colomb, a great authority on naval, strategy, remarked to an interviewer at tho time: 'I cannot for the life of me understand the giving up of Heligoland, as wo took it at the point <f tho sword. However, it does not much matter, as if .a war ever broke out between Germany and ourselves, the first thing we' should do would be to take it back again.' Littlo did tho Admiral when ho made this confident remark foresee that Germany would possess a few years afterwards a navy which would render tho prompt capture of Heligoland an impossibility. The best excuse for the cession of Heligoland is that neither politicians nor sailors could foresee the almost miraculous development of Germany as a rival' of Great Britain on the sea. Their' eyes were only directed at France. The Germans, having, obtained possession of the rock, lost no time 'in replacing the old English batteries' with armoured turrets mounting guns'of heavy calibre, and these guns have already spoken in tho present war.

IMPORTANCE OP HELIGOLAND GERMANY'S BARGAIN BATTERIES IN BLUE WATER Heligoland, off which the present North Sea engagement has taken place, is a sea fortress which is likely to play a very important part in the naval war of do fence in which Germany is now engaged. Tile points of the greatest strategical importance in the North Sea are three in number: tile mouth of the Elbe, which gives access to Hamburg and to tho western entrance of the Baltic and North Sea Canal; the naval harvour of Wilhclmshaven; ancl the mouth of tho Weser, with Bremen. These three points are. admirably defended by permanent land fortifications of great strength, and by Heligoland. As described, by Mr.' J. Ellis Barker, in tho "Nineteenth Century," Heligoland is a rock some hundred and fifty feet high, and not much larger than a park of moderate size, such as Hyde Park. It is almost exactly equi-distant from the month of the Elbe, with Haniburg and the entrance to the Baltic and North Sea Canal, from tho "month of the Weser with Bremen, and from Wilhelmshavcn. Therefore, Heligoland provides a most excellent advance point of observation. It is amply provided with signal stations, v ana with ' appliances for wireless telegraphy, and it is connected by oablo with Cuxhavcn and Wilholmshavoii. Besides Heligoland will sorve in war as a base for torpodo boats, which can lio in its shallow water while larger ships will bo nblo to anchor close to Heligoland, sheltered by the .'Dune,' and there to take in ammunition and coal. Heligoland, Mr. Barker remarked, is so strongly fortified tliat it is not only secure against a coup de main, but that it would bo a very_ awkward antagonist to all ships within reach of, its heavy guns and howitzers, and it will no doubt tako a very active part in any naval battle which may be'fought in its viciiiity. An Advanced Point of Observation. ' Heligoland lies about forty miles in front of the German coasts, but owing ) to the extensive shallows on (ho sea* it pnljf. fifteen $jlei