GERMANY'S LINE OF STEEL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 April 1939, Page 7

GERMANY'S LINE OF STEEL.

-3TRESH DEFENCES ON EAST PRUSSIAN COAST. GREAT CANAL SYSTEM Along the coast of East Prussia, which is divided from the rest of Germany by the Polish Corridor, a system of defences has grown up embracing aaval, military and air force measures, which is the sequel of the new line of ■German fortifications in the west, writes i;he Berlin correspondent of the Scotsman.

East Prussia’s coastline, which is -approximately 125 miles in length, is the sole possible “direct” point of contact, it is pointed out, between Germany and Soviet Russia. A “steel” system of coastal defence has 'therefore been evolved which, throug co-operation of all three services, is “proof against any strain.” More than two-thirds of East Prussia, including the whole of the coastline and a hinterland extending right across to the Polish frontier, is included in the recently announced “forbidden areas,” access to which is forbidden to serving members of any foreign armed force. Wilnin this system are coastal forts, naval bases and seaplane bases, as well as an elaborate system of anti-aircraft defences.

Along the low-lying sand dunes on the Frische Nehrung, which norms the eastern boundary of the Bay of Danzig, .and of the Kurischer .Nehrung, one-half ■of which belongs to Memel, is stationed the first mine-sweeping flotilla of the Beich navy, consisting of six vessels. ■On land, the marine artillery is cfcitrust.ed with shore batteries under the direction of the most easterly headquarters of the German coastal defence, stationed at Fort Pillau, which commands the entrance to the Frisches Naff—a stretch of water 50 miles long, landlocked except at this point.

An “Impregnable’- -Rase,

The fortress at Pillau is one of the .strongest points in Germany’s coastal -defences. From this base, which is described as “impregnable,” all operations off the East Prussian coast are ■directed. A curtain of fire, it is stated, can be dropped by the batteries all along the coast line at a word of command from headquarters. Predominance in the air is regarded as an absolute necessity in this area and Pillau is defended by a special -anti-aircraft company armed with modern anti-aircraft guns and A.A. machine guns. Working in conjunction with these defensive units are squadrons of aeroplanes and seaplanes. These are stationed at a large naval air base Which is springing up at Neutief, formerly a small fishing village near Pillau.

Operating from here are all-purpose machines, torpedo-carriers, and bomb--ers, and seaplanes. They have a fleet of rescue vessels of their own should any aircraft be forced down on to the sea.

So important is the naval defence of fhis coast in the eyes of the German -authorities that the first of the new .-series of 24 mine sweepers of the M -class, the Ml, has been sent there for <duty. It is pointed out that if enemy vessels were to lay a minefield along ■the East Prussian coast the inhabitants might be starved out, owing to lack of .sea-borne supplies. For this reason, particular stress is laid upon the mine--sweeping flotilla, the vessels of which, besides carrying machine-guns, are .armed with guns of rather more than 4in. calibre.

Since the completion of the Midland ■Canal linking the Bhine with the Elbe, further extensions of Germany’s inland -waterways system are, now being ■planned by Dr. Dorpmuller, German .Minister of Transport. The cost of the programme is estimated at nearly =£200,000,000. Widening Operations

In North Germany the DortmundJSms Canal, connecting the Euhr industrial area with the port of Emden and "the North Sea, will be widened to take .ships up to 1500 tons. The Biver Weser will be canalised between Minden, "Westphalia, and the port of Bremen, to permit the passage of 1000-ton ships to and from the Midland Canal.

Work will soon begin in the Hansa -Canal to link Hamburg by the shortest possible route with the industrial areas -of Western Germany. This waterway will be made wide enough for 1500-ton ships.

Most important of all for German -trade will be the Rnine-Main-Danube 'Canal, which will provide an inland route from the North Sea to the Black iSea. This, in turn, will be linked with the Midland Canal system, and thus with the big Baltic ports by a Werra.Main canal.

It is significant that in discussing the i Danube project, economic circles are for i the first time speaking openly of FieldMarshal Goering’s "second Four-year Flan." This confirms the prediction that the countries of South-east Europe, which, since the annexation of Czech .areas, have come completely under German economic domination, are to be included in the frameworK of the new plan now being worked out by FieldMarshal Goering. For the purposes of the plan Czechoslovakia, with_which a customs union will amost certainly be concluded, is being treated, to all intents and purposes, as German territory. A canal is to be constructed from the Oder to <Cosel Silesia, to the Danube at Vienna, •straight across Czechoslovakia. Over Forty Millions The cost of this waterway alone is estimated at over £40,000,000. It will provide the most direct connection between the Baltic and South-east Europe. South Germany will be linked up with the Danube waterways systems by a network of minor canals, including a

Rhine-Neckar-Danube canal and the Saar-Palatinate Canal, which will provide an outlet for the Saar heavy industry. The Sudeten German towns on the Elbe, such as Tetschen, Aussig and Leitmeritz, will be developed as inland ports, and another canal linking the Elbe and the Oder may be built. Further building projects will link up almost every corner of Germany with the main waterways system. Aachen, on the Belgian frontier, will be connected with the Rhine by a canal, and on the other side of Germany, in Silesia, the Adolf Hitler Canal will join Gleiwitz and the Upper Silesian industrial area with the Oder.

Hand in hand with these schemes go plans for regulating the Oder and the Elbe. These will involve the construction of numerous sluices and dams.