DENMARK'S DEFENCES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1914, Page 2

DENMARK'S DEFENCES

TO IHK kDITDS. Sir.— l can scarcely allow Mr. E. A. Dahl's comments upon my article on Denmark (which was published recently in your columns) to pass unnoticed. He sought to show that I underestimated the Danish war equipment when I wrote that "Denmark has no navy, no forts, and practically no army." But speaking in a comparative sense I am not far oiit. I need not quote the figures that Mr. Dahl supplied, but would merely refer any interested reader to Whitaker's Almanack, which is in most people's hands. Whitaker gives the full strength of Denmark's army as 834 officers aud 12,900 men, and the wiw strength as 90,000 all told. This is about New Zealand's stiength, and surely, in the vast scale of European armies, this is "practically no army. " Wbitaker gives Denmark's fleet as "37 'steam' vessels, in« eluding four ironclads." I doubt if any European country is weaker in that respect. Practically all the vessels are out ot date. As to Denmark's equipment in forts, perhaps Mr. Dahl, as a loyal Dane, will recall that in 1909, and again more recently, proposals were nude to establish forts across the frontier on the mainland, and that the proposal was abandoned because Germany threatened overshadowing works. I may say that in my article I drew upon no works of reference, but wrote what I had learned Denmark as the result of close and thorough investigation. 1 saw in the harbour three torpedo boats, not very modern, lying at anchor, uncommissioned and without a soul on board. 1 learned that it wae on the score of economy that they were kept thus. This was four years ago. I merely desire to poiij* these tacts out because the subject is an interesting one just now. when it appears likely that Denmark will be compelled to assort her position as a neutral in whoso waters mine& must not be laid by Germany. Ido not for a moment doubt the courage and fighting ability of the Dane ; both are beyond' question. But Denmark's attention has been devoted to developing herself industrially and commercially, and war burdens have not been taken up by her because Bhe has boon satisfied to stand as a neutral who is not interested- in the battle of armaments. This position was forced upon her after her cowardly defeat by Get 1 -' many. Mr. Dahl's kindly and appreciative reference to other portions of my article I read with pleasure.— l am, etc.", H. T. B. DREW.