The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-22
GREAT PRUSSIAN NAVAL STATION.
A Duplication of Cherbourg-How the German
Coast May be Affected by the War-The His
tory q m Old Military STRONGHOLD.

tory of an Old Military Stronghold.
The telegraph brings the information that the
mouth of the river Weser has been closed by
sunken hulks to prevent the entrance of the
vessels of the French navy. There is no doubt
that this news is correct but no one should
wonder If the same measures for the better
defense of the German coast were also applied to
the mouth of the river Elbe.
Inasmuch as it is generally conceded that she
is not match on the ocean for France whose
navy exceeds the PrussiaA about fourfold, the
latter power has but little left save to close her
commercial harbors voluntarily, by sunken
hulls, torpedoes, etc., and thus keep the in
truder out. This she can do the more effectively
because the coast all along there is low, marshy,
Holland, and exceedingly dangerous in foul
weather, so that there is but little
danger from landing, except in
sheltered spot like the mouth of a
river. What the Prussians are going TO do in
the Iahde Busen for the defense of their future
great naval station, lahde, remains to be SEEN
This spot was originally, and as early as 1911,
selected by Napoleon l for naval station, he
whole of that part of Germany's coast, and he
had it not only surveyed tor that purpose, but
had already erected some Notifications when his
downfall put an end to the scheme.
Prussia, anxious to create navy, and without
suitable spot of her own, bought this same
Iahde in 1854, on the strength of the old French
surveys (the only ones then in eXistence), for
the sum of 500,000 thalers from the Duchy of
W WulCu IL luCu UCiOuS0u AlIcT
thorough and eXhausting surveys, Prussia finally,
about four years later Gin 1859, commenced to
build and fortify marine harbor on the largest
| scale, and has ever since, and in spite of the
greatest difficulties, pushed her work forward,
| so that it is now very near completion.
The basins are large and capable of floating
fleet of the largest iron-clads The fortifcations
are extensive, and the barracks already built
| and building will comfortably accommodate
respectable army. Two of the greatest draw
| backs of this establishment are the want of good
| water, and the circumstance that the ebb tide
| falls fully twelve feet thus preventing the
! largest size men, of-war from entering the har
Dor at all except at high tide. The channel is
also difficult but that, in time of war and as an
| additional means of defense, is rather desirable
| than otherwise. France will make her fleet
| blockading the mouth of the Weser and that of
the Elbe near by strong enough not only to
! effect, this purpose but also to keep in check
| any number of war vessels the Prussans may
have available in the neighboring bay of Iahde
| to raise the blockade.
There are three points of the greatest impor-
tance to Prussia to be defended along the Allan
| tic coast The mouth of the Weser, with the
| opulent city of Bremen and its seaport called
! Bremerhaven-whchi is situate about half way
between Bremen City and the mouth of the
| river and connected with the city by railroad
| West of the mouth of the river Elbe is situated
the wealthy city of Hamburg, the former queen
| of the Hansa, and no to this day the home of
Germany's prOudest merchant princes, who are
the owners of great fleets of vessels and not far
distant the bay of Iahde with its naval station.
which is destined by Prussia to become her
principal marine harbor-in fact, second Cher
| bourg.
And Prussia, if she wants to give relief to her
| Atlantic coast, must send her navy from the
/ Baltic. Therefore, unless decided movement
of Prussias navy from her Baltic ports is heard
from, naval engagement on large scole is not
to be expected. 1t is of course probable that
France will attempt to take possession of the
harbor of lahde, but the defense of Prussia will
then be simply by means of her forts, for the
waters of the basis or bay are far too shallow
and the channel too narrow to admit the name
wiring of war vessels.