A DUTCH WAR EPISODE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 1896, 4 December 1923, Page 2

A DUTCH WAR EPISODE.

GERMAN DESIGNS ON HOLLAND. INTERESTING MEMOIRS. The “Nneywe Rotterdamamsche Courant” publishes some interesting memoirs by Mr Bosboom, the former Minister of War. Mr Bosboom explains how, in 1916, the neutrality of Holland was seriously threatened by Germany, states The Hague correspondent of the Manchester Guardian. “In the afternoon of the 30th March, 1916,” the writer says, “a few moments before a. meeting of Ministers, I had received an unexpected visit from my colleagues of the Foreign Office and the navy. Something extraordinary serious was going on. A communication had just been obtained from the German Government asserting that they knew from a most reliable source Hint England intended to land a considerable number of troops in Holland. In the Thames and the Humber, it was declared, numerous means of transport was assembled as well as naval forces. The German authorities were convinced, they said, that the English intended to disembark troops on the left bank of the West Scheldt, and they feared the Dutch military forces would not be strong enough to prevent the attack. If later on, therefore the German positions in Belgium were endangered (although they wished to respect the Dutch neutrality) they would take such measures as were required by the situation, and even, if necessary, at the price of Dutch neutrality.” The Minister of War did not believe in these pretended English schemes. “Anyhow,” goes on Mr Bosboom, “my doubt regarding the possibility of an English attack would not be enough to convince the Germans. If they deemed their positions in Belgium endangered they would act. Accordingly it might happen that their troops would pass the Dutch frontier without a single soldier being embarked for Holland.”

The Council of Ministers decided to concentrate the army. It became evident. however, that Great Britain had not the slightest intention in the direction threatened by the German report, and, writes Mr Bosboom, the German Government apologised to the Dutch Government for the agitation they had caused. Your correspondent is in a position to add absolutely authentic particulars to this revelation by the former Dutch Minister of War. In the spring of 1916 the German General Staff had prepared an attack against England with the Dutch coast as the basis of its operations. The scheme naturally had opponents on grounds of policy, IUK I a pretext had to be found. It was then that rumours of an intended landing of British troops in Holland were circulated and the communication related above sent to the Dutch Government. The German Ambassador to The Hague was entirely opposed to the invasion of Holland, and warmly defended his views before the Kaiser, to whom, at Spa, the Queen of Holland sent a private letter on the subject. These representations had their influence on Wilhelm, and the German military scheme against England was pig-eon-holed. The Kaiser’s decision was remembered by the Dutch Government when lie fled to Holland in November, 1918.