PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 70

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

THE DUTCH FORTS MYSTERY. IF BELGIUM, NOT HOLLAND, TOO? It has been an unfortunate thing that Lord Roberts and others who, in and out of season, have been advocating “ national service,” have been like voices crying in the wilderness. The evidence seemed so decisive that Germany had big schemes on hand that it is an absolute mystery why more was not done at Home in the way of military training. In February, 1911, there appeared in the London Magazine an article, “What Does Germany Want?” which, if applied to Belgium, could have been written yesterday, and would apply to Holland now as well as to Belgium if the Germans had had the power. A few extracts from this article -linked up will make interesting reading : “ In the middle of Europe the German Empire hangs like a big cauldron over a lire The cauldron is beginning to boil, and its neighbours are apprehensive lest it should boil over and burn them. Especially anxious are three little nations round tho western rim of the cauldron, for it is tilted in their direction, and they are likely to feel tho first withering effects of the overflow. . . . The fire beneath tills German pot is of peculiar intensity. It is no mere crackling of thorns, but a fervent heat drawn from the special nature of the fuel employed; and the vigour of the stoking would seem to suggest an intention to caiiiie tho pot to boil furiously and ultimately to boil over.” It has, hasn’t it? The first paragraphs of the article tell ns that, in police court phraseology, Germany was then “ loitering with

intent,” and that Belgian and Dutch doors and windows were being tampered with so much that it was time to call upon the police to take action. We now see that this “burgling” was systematically carried out right up to the finish, and it is self-interest pure and simple that is keeping Germany out of Holland at the present moment. Take a look at a map covering Western Germany, Holland, and Denmark. _ “ Germany complains that Holland lies right across their most important trade route—the Ithine, the main artery of that busy and thriving region in which Germany’s greatest industrial activity is centred. Here in Westphalia and the Rhenish provinces are hived more than a fourth of her total population, more than a fourth of her industries; here are produced half of her coal output, half of her chemical products, nearly all of her iron, and all but a fraction of her wine. The whole of this titanic industrial region ia traversed by a magnificent waterway bearing an enormous commerce to and from the sea within two and a-half to three and a-half days.” But the whole of this trade, or nearly so, is exported from two cities which are not German. “ The opulence of Amsterdam and Rotterdam—which has reduced to comparative insignificance the two German ports of Hamburg and Bremen—is in effect the creation of Germany’s energy and commercial activity, her wonderful prosperity, and the mighty growth of her manufacturing industries.” HISTORICAL CLAIMS. One of the most powerful incentives the Germans have in carrying on the present war are the teachings ot Treitschke, the German historian who is to the Germans— Bernhardi is always quoting him—what Macaulay was with his essays and history, say, 50 years ago. He and other historians say : “ Germans claim that as heirs of the old German Empire they possess the same historical right to the Netherlands as to Alsace and Lorraine”; and “it is the imperative duty of German politics to regain the mouths of the Rhine. The inclusion of Holland in the German Customs Union is as necessary as daily bread.” But though Germany has been Germanising Holland as much as possible, and has paid writers always ready to urge that what Germany wants is certainly the best thing for Holland—remember, too, that the husband of the Dutch Queen is a German, —there are still enough sturdy Dutchmen to resist the modern Naboth. “These fail to see any advantage to be gained by entering the stomach of the wolf in order to escape the problematical attack of some other hungry foe.” England is assumed as one. GERMANY’S OBJECTS. One has already been named—the possession of Amsterdam and Rotterdam; — but there is another one. “ The mouths of the Rhine and the Scheldt are the best Continental sally-ports for an attack on Great Britain. In German hands they would be transformed into the mightiest naval bases in Europe, impregnable under the covering protection of their numerous islands—-in fact, the Dutch maritime zone would be even more heavily fortified than the 80 miles of German coastline from Borkum. Emden and Wilhelmshaven would become merely subsidiary bases. An enormous German fleet, backed up by an immense army, would be concentrated within a few hours of our shores —a perpetual menace to our security and peace of mind, and automatically dwarfing our independence of action and initiative. Forced to make gigantic counter-efforts, we should be compelled to maintain a huge naval strength constantly tied to the Channel, while every, man fit to baar arms» would have to become a trained soldier. For the shadow of a mighty nation of 70 millions would have fallen upon our island home. The entente cordials could not survive so definite an acceptance of inferiority as would be involved by a surrender to German overlordship at the mouths of the Rhine and the Scheldt. For France, the prospect would be one of graduated tutelage. For Britain ultimately—the fate of Carthage.” THE FORTS. .We know that from Emden to Kiel behind a chain of armoured islands the coastline is really “ a vast naval base backed by colossal arsenals _ and _ dockyards.” But not content with this, the Germans have used an ingenious argument with the Dutch. “You are unprotected, and are therefore liable to be used by an enemy against us, so therefore you must fortify your coast to protect yourselves, and because it is not fair that you should allow yourselves to become a source of weakness —in fact, we shall not allow it.” These forts will save Germany great expense when she annexes• Holland. When! STRATEGIC CANALS AND RAILWAYS. “ The wdiole of the North Sea region, from Emden to the mouth of the Elbe, is being linked up by an enlarged canal system penetrating the intervening stretches of flat country. And so, when Germany is ready for ‘The Day,’ German ships will actually, at need, be able to move from Kiel, on the Baltic, to Emden, under the complete cover of their land frontiers; and equally able to gain access from the sea at any point to a splendid array of docks and dockyards prepared beforehand for their succour and support.” . Again, these fortified ports and islands, in many cases almost valueless commercially, are the termini of networks of railways, “ equipped with miles of wharves, from which enormous bodies of troops can be embarked with a minimum of delay. And not least significant of all this preparedness, at Emden and Wilhelmsdafen are stored, in readiness for employment, hundreds of Jong, light landing-stages adapted for use on a shelving const line.” These have been regulaih used at mameuvres. and are identical wiih those used by the Japanese in the Rv. -:-o-.kipanesc war. Weil. i haven’t written much about the mysterious forts after all. nor about

the special means used by Germany to make Holland and Belgium link up unimportant roads and railways with the formidable system of strategic railways on the German boundary; but I have exceeded my space, and must wind up. I am afraid, however, that yet, on the coasts of Holland and Belgium as well as of Germany, there are fearful surprises in store. ' I am a Job’s comforter, am I not? But I am not a pessimist. We must be prepared for great slaughter, and when we are ready for it w T e can face it I have no patience with optimistic idiots who hate to have their serenity disturbed, and, when it is, become panicky are willing to sacrifice anything to regain their complacent composure.