BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVAL BASES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 69, 11 August 1914, Page 7

BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVAL BASES

The above map shows the North Sua and the British ami German naval bases upon its waters or adjacent to them, with the distances in miles between the most important points on the two coasts. Docks capable of accommodating Dreadnoughts are indicated by numbers where they are now constructed, as are also torpedo bases and submarine bases. The most important fortresses are skown bj stars. Tie main German base in tlie North Sea is Wilhelmshavcn, with advanced positions at Heligoland and Borkum, nil strongly fortified. The main British base is Sheerness, where a floating dock is stationed. The distance bet\r»em the two main bases is 320 miles, or sixteen hours' steam at twenty knots. One •f the shortest passages across the North Sea is from Harwich to Rotterdam, Which ia only 110 miles, or five and a-half hours at twenty knots.

'The German coast line is thoroughly protected by powerful fortifications and an elaborate system of mines, and 850,300 organised troops are told off for its defence on mobilisation. The North Sea Canal, from Brunsbuttel, w*here two large docKS exist, to the naval base, at Kiel, 'gives the German fleet a, means of reaching the Baltic without passing round the Danish coast. The work of enlarging the canal to accommodate Dreadnoughts lias just been completed. The main French and Dutah naval bases are also shown. The chief station of the Dutch navy is at tfie Helder, and in the event of an invasion of Holland by land the Dutch army would fall back on the tongue of land between Haarlem, Amsterdam and the I-Teliler, opening the dykes so as to flood the country to the south. Belgium has no navy, but Antwerp is fortified, and there are also a number of forts on the line of the Mouse.