New-York tribune., 1909-04-25
THE NEW GERMAN NAVY
Il National Policy Rather than q
Challenge.
Kiel, April IL.

a question which excitable Britons are as
cussing with mora vehemence than dlscreuoh'
| while The Spectator is warning them WIN
| portentous solemnity that they must adopt a
new way Of life" II they are TO deserve the tltle
| of Romans Of the modern world Yet nobody
| in North Germany seems to be deeply concerned
with this appalling strife for mastery in sea
| power Newspapers are silent over what are
termed vagaries of English ina gination. and not
! even the orators of the beer saloons, who are
| justly held in contempt by the merchants OF
| Hamburg and Bremen. raise their voices IN
| shrl falsetto over the prospect of an easy con-
| quest over Britain. Kiel is perhaps the most
| important naval station and harbor in Ger
| many. yet one may explore either side OF the
! spacious bay by daylight and dine comfortably
| at snug restaurant at night without hearing
| provocative word against England. The town
| is wide awake and carrying out with oldtime
Hanseatic energy the imperial policy OF develop
| ing naval industries and providing for natonal
defence but il is not plotting against the peace
! of England nor aspiring to create for Germany
| a supremacy in Europe which neither Spain nor
France could obtain in the past.
| The policy was taken up when the Danish
! provinces were invaded over forty years ago by
| Prussia and Austria and not defended by Eng
| land The conquest OF Schleswig- -Holstein,
which was Bismarcks first European achieve
| ment really turned upon the possession OF kiel
| Harbor. Prussia coveted it as the future strong
hold of the Baltic, and went to war with Austria
| over it. securing absolute control over the TWO
| Danish provinces. That was in 1866, when hlei
| was a quaint fishing town, with population or
! twenty thousand and with nothing more stirring
| in a years circuit than rural fair in Epiphany
week illustrating the traditions OF five centuries
| 1t is now the principal German naval stronghold,
| with q population OF over one hundred ana
| ninety thousand. AS soon the Prussians OBJ
| tained possession of the harbor scientific fort-
| fcations and dockyards were constructed. Ihe
| Kaiser Wilhelm Canal from the lower Eioe TO
/ Holtenau in Kiel Harbor, was undertaken less
FOR commercial than for strategic reasons. since
II offered direct facilities for the concentration
| Of the Baltic and North Sea fleets. In 1896 the
! waterway was opened. after nearly S39O00O
| had been expended on it, and the land fortihca-
| tions were strengthened and the garrisOns in
creased.
During the last thirteen years the imperial
| dockyards have been enlarged several times and
provided with a scientific plant for the con-
| struction Of the most formidable vessels Of war
! The Krupps leased the Germania shipyard about
! the time when the canal was opened, and seven
! years ago purchased the works and rapidly con-
| verted them into one OF the most serviceabie
| centres Of marine engineering in Europe They
| also removed the Tegel works 70 Kiel, and made
| ARRANGEMENTS for building and arming Dread
| noughts as rapidly the work could be done In
! England Another private corporation, the
| Howaldt yards, has enlarged its facilities for
| naval construction. and is now undertaking 10
| build battleshps OF the largest and most for
| midabe type.
| All these links in a chain Of national policy are
seen in the course OF an excursion around Kie
| Harbor. The Germsnia works on the east
! err side Of the upper bay. directly opposite the
| ne ThaulOU Museum. and
| a populous working quarter has grown up
| around them. 1t is an immense establishment.
Whre nearly five thousand men are constantly
! employed Four slips OF the largest size are
| rooted in with glass and iron. that work on
| battleshps be carried on in winter or sum
| mer: two more slips soon TO be under cover
| there are enormous cranes for lifting the tur
| rets and guns when the vessels are ready to re-
! ceive their armament from Essen; there are
scores of machine shops and forges, and hun
! dreds Of other buildings and with the seven
! berths where warships can be built at once. the
! ponderous steam hammers and the newest ap-
! pliances for turbine engineering, there is evil
! dence Of q complete outfit for the rapid con-
! struction of navy. Opposite the schloss gar
| den are the imperial dockyards, with a much
| larger acreage than the Germanla works. and
! with immense basins. drydocks and slips for the
! construction and repair Of vessels OF every class
!. Opposite the Naval Academy the Howaldt
! shipyards. where battleships can also be turned
! out expeditiously when the armor. guns and
! turrets are supplied from hrupps works In
! Essen. Beyond the shpyards. where the spa
! cious harbor narrows into the outer entrance,
there is formidable line OF fortresses and bat
! teries from MoltenOrt to Loboe, and this is
| matched the other shore by Friedrichsort
! and other Notifications bristling with heavy
! guns. Holtenau with the locks and anchor
/ Z YEal an6 ETrfI
ichsort TO complete the arrey of naval and mill
| tary works.
After making the round of Kiel Harbor an i'm
| partial witness is constrained TO admit that
| there is overwhelming evidence of consistent
| national policy carried out with German thor
oughness. Kie has been converted into a naval
! stronghold impregnabIe against external assault
! for no hostile fleet pass the double
! chain OF fortresses and batteries. The canal
provides facilities for the rapid concentration of
! the German navy, and opens line OF retreat If
the feet in the North Sea ports be menaced with
superior force. In the shipyards and imperial
| docks with the surrounding forges, machine
works and hosting mechanism. is a complete
plant for the rapid creation and renewal of yes
| sells of every class The object for which the
| duchIes were annexed after two has been
| accomplished Germany has unassaiiable
| naval station with inner lines Of communica ton
by the Kiel Canal between the North Sea and
! Baltic ports 1t also has in the Krupp works at
Essen and in the shipyards at Kiel. Stettn
| Danzig, Wilhelmshaven the lower Elbe and
Bremerhaven the complete mechanism requisite
for constructing and arming warships rapidly
| and economically. and adequately defending the
home ports and an immense and constantly in
| creasing merchant marine
| Is there anything provocative or unfriendy