Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 54, 3 July 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

AN ALL-TIME BLUNDER.

THE VALUE OF HELIGOLAND.

GERMAN PRESS DOES SOME CROWING. United Press Association. (Received 11.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, July 2. The German newspapers publish extensive eulogies of the Kaiser on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the agreement exchanging Heligoland. The papers emphasise his foresight in obtaining the Island, without which the present develop ment of the German fleet would be impossible. If the Kaiser had not taken Heligoland the present war would have been impossible.

Heligoland, which lies ' about 40 miles north-west of the mouths of the Elbe and the Weser, is an island one-fifth of a square mile in extent, and consists of a rock rising to a height of 200 feet, with a village and a low plain. It had, when ceded, about 2000 inhabitants. The island was acquired by Great Britain from Denmark in 1807, and in 1890 was ceded by the Salisbury Government to i Germany in exchange for territory in Zanzibar. The real credit of the "slinmess" in this exchange has visually been credited to Bismarck, but Kaiser Wilhelm apparently is now getting the kudos—probably with an idea of counteracting a growing unpopularity. Heligoland is the most remarkable of German's naval strongholds. In 1890 the sea had made such inroads on'the soft cliffs that the complete disappearance of Heligoland at no very distant date .vas freely predicted. With characteristic thoroughness the Germans took riieaMires to preserve their new acquisition. Immensely strong breakwaters and sea-walls were built all round tUe coast, but violent gales demolish'-'! much of the work, which had 'to be replaced at great expense, and it is only in recent years that the ravages of * the sea have been completely checked. Simultaneously with this .work a good deal of land reclamation went on, with the result that Ibe area of the island has been .greatly increased. A large harbor foi tor-pedo-boat's and submarines has been enclosed by two long moles. Inside there is a miniature dockyard, with repair shops, magazines, stores, etc Outside this harbor there is a sale anchorage for warships of great sr/.c. It is estimated that from beginning to end the naval woks at Heligoland have cost Germany something like £10,000,000 sterling. Fortifications of remarkable strength hav< been erected. These consist chiefly of heavy guns, mounted, in steel tur rets, well concealed from the view o' an enemy at sea, and so placed th.V every approach to Hie islmd is swept by their lire. As these guns an mounted on the platoa.i they have a high command. i;iiJ (.Hacking ships would have to encounter a plunging five. Numerous bomb-proof cer.cn.! stations and magazines have been excavated. It is und'M-.tood that, given an ample supply of ammunition and provisions, Heligoland is in a position to resist attack by the strongest naval force for an indefinite period 'ihere is a powerful wireless station, a naval flying and a large naval hospital. The garrison consists in the main of four companies of sen-nei. g -"tillers. The conrn ir.di.it is HearAu'miral Jacobson, The high sttate-

gieal importance of Heligoland is selfevident. Its position, some thiityfi.ve miles from (ho mainland, is that of a strong outpost, defending the estuaries of the Elbe and Weser. A ilotilla of destroyers or submarines based on the island could make things very uncomfortable for a fleet endeavouring to blockade the German coast, and it was the recognition of this fact which led to the construction of the new torpedo harbour. Thanks to the wireless station, communication can always be maintained with the mainland, and also by means of aircraft'. In common with most military nations, Germany appears to place undue reliance on fixed defences as an element of sea power, but it is obvious, from the vast sums of money she has spent on its development, that Heligoland plays a leadingpart in the German plan of naval strategy. >

A YOUNG HERO. HELPS LONDON RECRUITING. (Received 11.5 a.m.) London, July 2. Da'yer, the nineteen-year old boy who gained the Victoria Cross, is devoting a week's leave from the front to recruiting in London. He headed a march through the city with a band uid made a speech in Trafalgar Square. His recruiting was highly successful.

DAUGHTERS OF EMPIRE. AUSTRALIA AND CANADA. SIR EDMUND BARTON'S FAITH. (Received 9.2 a.m.) London, July 2. Sir Edmund Barton, at the Colonial fustitute, said that although it might >e a great strain on Australia's resources to send 150,000 men, she could md would do so if she wore asked.' He also'' believed that Canada could send louble that number.

THE CRY FOR VENGEANCE.

BRITISH TRADE UNIONISTS. (Received 9.5 a.m.) London. July 2. Strong denunciations of Germany ,vere made at the Trade Union Confer•nce at Derby. The delegates endorsed tfr Appleton's refusal to attend the nternational conference at Amsterlam because Germans were attending, •\lr Appletoii pointing out that after lie German atrocities Briton's cry for ,-engeance. Mr Tibet declared that German Trade Unionists were as much to blame is the German Government, because he latter bad long boasted of their ntention to-crush France and England.