BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVAL BASIS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 107, 29 September 1914, Page 7

BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVAL BASIS

The abore map shows the North Sea and the liritish anil German naval bases upon itu waters or adjacent to them, with the distances in miles between (.be most important points on the two coasts 1 Jock 3 capable of accommodating Dreadnoughts are indicated by number, where thej are now constructed, as are also t»rpedo basea and submarine basei. 'J'he most important fortresses riv shown by stars. Tlie main German Tiiec in the North Sea is Wilhelmshaven, with advanced poaitiow at Heligoland and Borkum, all strongly fortified. The main British liaaa ia Sheernegß, where a floating dock is stationed. The distance between tlie two main bases ia 320 miles, or sixteen hours' steam at twenty knoti. One of tk# ihortest passages across tihe North Sea ia from Harwich to Rotterdam, wbicli U only 110 miles, or fire and *■ half hours at twenty knots.

The tierman coast line is thoroughly protected by powerful fortifications w»d ail elaborate system of mines, and 350. 00 organised troops are told off for its defence on mobilisation. The Nortli Sea Canal, from Urunsbuttel, Where two large docss exist, to the naval base at Kiel, gives the fierinan fleet a means of reaching the Baltic without passing round the Danish coast. The work of enlarging the canal to accommodate Dreadnoughts has just been completed. The main French and Dutch naval bates are also shown. The chief station of the Dutch navy is at the lleldcr. and in the event of aa invasion of Holland by land the Dutch army would fall lwk on the tongue of land between Haarlem, Amsterdam and the Helder, opening the dykes so as to flood the country to the south. Belgium 'nas no navy, hut Antwerp is and there are also a number of forts on the lino of the Mouse.