HELIGOLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 7

HELIGOLAND

ITS VALUE TO ENGLAND HOW IT SERVED THE GERMANS (By a Correspondent, of tho "Morning Post.") Ileforo it is too late it behoves us to consider carefully of one little, though by no means insignificant, item m tho terms of peace as they will affect our Empire. This item is Heligoland. Though few people-seem to caro what becomes of it, it is in reality of far moro value to us than the whole German Navy and much else besides. Heligoland was'part of our Empiro from 1807 1 ill 18' JO, in which year Lord Salisbury, with a levity and shortsightedness' almost incredible, bartered it for territories in Africa which only our criminal negligence had allowed the Ger» mans to occupy. This small, rocky islet in tho North Sea, which we parted with so lightly and tho Germans received with such exultation, lies less than 30 miles off tho mouths of tho Elbe and Wcser. A quarter of a milo east of the main rock is a tiny.reef or s-andbank called Dunen-Insel, which till 1720 was joined to its larger neighbour by a neck of land. Under tho lee of this the largest vessels can ride safely at anchor. Heligoland itself is of a triangular shape, one milo long by nearly a third of a milo broad at its 'widest 'part. The whole is about 130. acres in area, and the only landingplace is a little strip of sand on the south-east.

Tho cession of Heligoland in 1890 was even more prejudicial to tho national interests than the- giving away of the lonian Isles to Greece in 1801. The doctrine of self-determination, of which wo hear so much now, would havo put an effectual stop to either proceeding. Events have shown how wise tho Germans were in asking for Heligoland. Its possession by them hampered the activities of, our Navy to an enormous extent, and as a submarine base it was of incalculable service to our, enemies. Com-mon-sense says let us take it now, when we can have it for tho asking, and run no risks. Tho gods never repeat their gifts. It will bo impossible hereafter lo recover it by any peaceful means, how.ever we may wish it. Bitt, apart from its military or political utility, there aro tuaiiy cogent reasons why we ought to recover our possession of the'island. It. is of the utmost vatuo in connection with our North Sea fisheries, which, we may be certain, will become in the near future of capital importance to this country. There could be no more striking'token and trophy of our nnval- supremacy and sovereignty over the North Sea.,-which German arrogance wished to rebaptiso as "The German Sea," than this rock, in the very centre of tho area of our great exploits. Nor is it possible to imagine a' moro ideal spot for a memorial to our seamen. This might tako. the.form of a colossal stahio of Britannia with tthe trident in her fist, as the symbol of our national' efficiency and success. " Heligoland, again, is a relic and a reminder of our ancient home on the Continent.' Like the birds of passage that congregate on it now, our ancestors, the Angles and Saxons, counted that as part-of their inheritance, and rested there, with their vessels when on their way to create England.', It was tho Delo's, the Holy Island, of the.Frisian race, and the centre of their religion. A form of tho Frisian dialect is still to be heard there, and wo know from tho adh.ge: Bread, beer, and cheese Are good English and good' Freesc. ■ Heligoland has a population •of about 2000, and is a delightful resort, in the summer. To carry out tho wWh'Cxnrcssed by some callous persons that it. should be blown up and destroyed would be as criminal as it would be senseless. Finally, it would be a disgrace to us to leave' in. tho hands of such an enemy as tho Germans have shown themselves. to bo what was once ours.and has so .many claims on our feolings. From its history, Us associations, ita character, and even ils nnmo. Heligoland is a uniquo snot. Is thero any valid,,any conceivable, reason why we should not repossess ourselves of it? The old man still lives who had to haul down our glorious flag nearly thirty years ago.. Let him, and no other,'have*'tho joy and privilcgo of running ur> the old flagagain.. The wishes of "tho inhabitants were..not consulted when, we gave up their home to a nation that it. has now become a disgrace ,to belong to. It liesupon us to rectify this high-tended wrong.