THE FATE OF ZEEBRUGGE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1917, Page 2

THE FATE OF ZEEBRUGGE

v Not so many years-ago Zeebrugge was only one of the many small villages of Belgium—before King Leopold conceived a scheme to create a, port on the shore. Antwerp, the prinoipal Belgian seaport, importarit as it is, lies on the River Schledt, and it takes sometimes a day for steamers to reach the open sea at Flushing. Furthermore, Flushing being in Holland, the Schledt is an international river, which complicated all shipping problems. King Leopold wanted a seaport on Belgium's seashore. Ostend had to. bo eliminated, for it is the most- fashionable seaside resort of Western Europe, and Zeobruggo.was selected. A huge wall, projecting almost two miles into the sea, was built and provided with cranes; everything was done on. an immense Scale, forZeebrug-ge'was expected to exceed Antwerp in importance. But difficulties arose coon after the work started. The harbour was full of sand, and even almost continuous dragging could not keep certain places from., instantly being filled, for the sand kept moving. But King Leo: pold was a very energetic man, and in the. meantime politicians had seen in tho sche.mo an important factor for their propaganda. The Conservative Party saw in the development of Flanders a splendid counterweight to Antwerp, the centre of the' Opposition. At last "Zeebrugge was ready; tho immense long cranes seemed like outstretched arms asking , tor work, but no ships came except now and again a solitary boat looking for shelter, and the single boat of the^ Zeebrugge-Hull Line, running only' during the summer: season; The two-miles-long pier was little more than a favourite promenade for those who love the sea. Antwerp flourished more than ever, as a proof that one; cannot replace the commerce of a port that has a standing of centuries.