"AT BRITAIN'S HEART."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14213, 2 February 1917, Page 3

"AT BRITAIN'S HEART."

ZKHRRUGGEi AS PERMANENT GEJIIMAN NAVAL BASE. t AMSTERDAM, Dec. 1. Count Ernst zu Reventlow declares m ito-day's Deutsche Tagjeszeitung, "'that unless Germany keeps the Belgian coa«t arid turns Zeebrugge into another Willvelmshaven pointed at Great Britain's heart," ho peace terms would please him. "The Flanders coast," ho adds, "is valuable lo us, not because it is part oi the land leading to the Channel, but because, it iis the ideal basis for our war fleet, as its hinterland is for our air fleet. Look what has been done at Zeebrugge under conditions wholly improvised'! With several years' systematic work we could achieve something enormous without entailine; greater cost than tlie building of Wilhelmshaven." When Germany is permanently m possession of Zeebrugge and Ostend, Count Reventlow advocates the building oil an enormous fleet lest these harbors he "stables without horses." Only then will Germany's maritime power be really and decisively increased. "A Flemish coast, technically and perfectly armed," he. continues, "will give pur fleet an incdtnpairably favorable base, will permit our ships, either 'by the mere fact of its existence or by hard figKting, to snatch for the German Empire a free road to the high seas. "We do not wish to batter at a door until it opens. We are going to force those who keep the door closed to leave it open by taking from them strength to keep it closed. This is our opportunity, %and our descendants will not forgive us for letting it go past unused." •*'