The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1914. GERMAN COAST DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 17, 7 September 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1914. GERMAN COAST DEFENCE.

Some mouths ago a leading French journal discussed the character of fortifications at the principal German ports, the German practice apparently being, as a rule, to entrust the defence of her coast to the navy, and to assign to the army the duty of defending the coastal districts of secondary importance. Taking a few examples, the French writer referred to shows that the fortification of Heligoland presented few difficulties, for the lofty plateau has enabled guns to be mounted in the most advantageous positions, whence they are able to direct a plunging lire ,on hostile ships without being exposed to counter-bombardment. At Kiel, the same advantage exists in a modified form, the guns there being mounted in works about one hundred and fifty feet above sea level, but else-

where on the German masts all the battery positions have had to bo chosen on flat ground, owing to the low-lying shore line, and their file cannot therefore be so effective. At Cuxhaven the works contain 12-inch guns, while the batteries at Borkum, the most .easterly of the East Frisian Islands, to which German strategists attach immense importance, are armed with 14-inch weapons. The lire control system in ■ vogue in the German coast batteries is stated to ho inferior to French methods; but, on the other hand, Germany’s network of signal stations, which ensure the prompt transmission of all hostile naval movements to the battery commanders, is highly praised. Danzig ho considers to be greatly exposed to a seaward bombardment, though strong redoubts have been built at Hela to command the gulf

ivonigsherg and Pi I lau are equally exposed to attack “by the Russian fleet, which .is the only force taken into account by those responsible for the defence of the Baltic coast.” Othei weak points on the Northern coast are Swiucnmnde, Ahlheck. and Horingsdorf. The seizure of the island of Rugeu is mentioned as one of the contingencies which would seriously menace Germany. At Kiel, says the author. the lofty site of the batteries is an undoubted advantage, hut the guns at present in position there are described as very inefficient. It is inferred that Germany places no exaggerated reliance on coast defences, but elects

to spend most of her resources on the seagoing fleet. So far, in the present struggle, the much-vaunted ships of the vain-glorious German have skulked liko rats in a hole, or at best aimed their titanic forces at a little fleet of unarmed fishermen.