FORTIFICATIONS AT FLUSHING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 225, 28 January 1911, Page 8

FORTIFICATIONS AT FLUSHING

Writing of the Dutch defence proposals, the Brussels correspondent ot The Times stated on December 13:— "The Dutch Government has published an extract from the secret report on maritime defences, in which it is declared that the system of defence must give complete guarantees for the maintenance of Dutch neutrality. The fortification of the coasts being indispensible, the forts at the Texel will be modernised those of the port of Ymuiden and ot the Nieuwe Waterweg will be completed, and, finally, the fortifications at Neuzen and Ellewoutsdyk being inadequate for the defence of the West Scheldt, fortifications of tho highest class will be constructed at Flushing. "The Government adds that no international complications can arise in consequence of this scheme, as the existing fortifications of the Scheldt are to be abolished when the new works at Flushing are completed. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at 35,000,000 florins (about £3,100,000). of which 54242,(100 ilorins are to be expended at Flushing. ''Holland refuses to take into account the hostility of Belgium to the project, which it is thought here, will mean the 'bottling up' of Antwerp. It is reported that the Belgian Government will reply by creating a military port at Zcehrugge. The present commercial port has failed to give the results which were hoped, and the construction company are asking for a fresh subsidy ot 2,00b,000f. (£80,000)' for works "and maintenance.