THE DUTCH COAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 10

THE DUTCH COAST

VALUE TO GERMANY. AIR ATTACKS ON BRITAIN. LESS FAVOURABLE ASPECTS. Mnjoi-<!eiioral A. ('. Teniporley, "Sun-j <lsiy Times" inilitiiry correspondent, ■ « rit γ-i : - It. is generally believed that it is the fj|iluro of (Jvniian lumbers against Brit iw-h lighters. Hud the desire to give them .in (vriirt i'f tin- shortr>r-ranged German < lighter-* Unit has Inl Hitler to look for] air l»(«(v> licuriT Kngltiud. i Hii r.ppiirent threat to Holland and' Hcluiiiiii i-. regard I e*s <>f moral cnnsci|iipii(tm, ji11<1 with a i-yjiiciil disregard for ivcpiii it ml ot't r«'|w-atp<l asmta'aiices of Herman rcwpect for their neutrality. Tlic Dutch flic *t'»ut fighting men, |mrtimlarly behind water —almost their i natural oleincnt—ami if then? in time for inundations to Income effective, the ! ■iiMcn provinces bellin<l the new Holland I water lino should lie rendered almost impregnable. Hut there is a tendency to delay too l'ong in letting the. water in to avoid, if possible, the damage it create* and the necessity of clearing the country. The depth is not grout, it limit olie or two feet, and they are extremely efficient in controlling it. Th»i witter line, whicli in the main defence of the country, runs nlorjf the Hiver N'eclit. wth the im|>ortnnt railway jlllK-tion of I'trecht in tho centre, and its n-iiifw are in the three great rivers ami at Muiden on the Zuydcr Zee. Alliance With Belgium. 'Plio territories, defended thus comprise tilie big citiew of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague, and form the wealthiest part of the country. Kα.* t of this is a smaller water line", called the Urebbe, and the Kiiver ljs.sel, where the country (■eases to be below sea level and broadens out. These two are suitable advanced potions, but eant of them the country i« hardly deifennible. An allinm-e with Belgium, if she ia aim, attacked, would Iμ; very <lesirable, I and it is hardly likely that Belgium would 'be content to remain neutral in any circumstances. It would greatly facilitate, France and Great Britain sending her aid. Belgium )wis a fine army as well as several prepared lines of defence in prolongation of the Maginot Line. She also has the Albert Canal, if Germany turns the Belgian scheme of defence by crossing the Mnas in the Maestricht "peninsula," which is an outlying province that Holland could hardly attempt to defend. Belgium would also emlwvour to prevent her field arni.y, which is now very different in character, being locked up in Antwerp, as in 1014. The Reverse Side. From a German point of view, it would be a big responsibility to have to fight two fresh artnien. which would certainly mean soriniin looses, as well as engaging the Dutch and Belgian defences, each in their own way of a formidable type. It ia improbable that the whole of both countries could be conquered, and there would be many millions to l>e fed. And all this would be incurred for aerodromes. It ia unlikely that the North Sea coast could be reached and held. It may be admitted that possession of territory in the Low Countries would confer many advantages on Germany, though they would not be all on one Ride, as England would get increased facilities, too. Is there not something in the •suggestion that there may be no more in it than a threat to put pressure upon them to resist the British blockade?