The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-04
HOLLAND TO FORT|FY
HARBOR Of FLUSHING
German Pressure at The
Hague Forces Decision; Will
Cost s3,ooo,ooo.
BELGIUM is AROUSED
Kaiser Would Seize Forts in
Case of War With
England.
BY FREDERICK WERNER.
special Cable IN The Tr,hune

Special Gable to The Tribune.
BERLIN. Aug. 3.-The Dutch have
certainly no love for Germany, but so
much pressure has been eIerted by the
German ambassador az The Hague that
Queen Wilhelmina's s phlegmatic and
peace-loving subjects have at last been
forced to decide to spend nearly $3,-
100000 on forti6cations at the harbor
Of Flushing.
There is considerable satisfaction at
Wilhelmstrasse over tnis, though not
much is said about it in the German
press, partly because Germany does not
want to hurt Dutch pride by proclaim
ing the decision as q victory for Ger
man diplomacy. and partly because it
had been hoped that Holland would
spend about twice tho amount and
make the forts up to date in every
way.
Germany first began to put pressure
On Holland in 1903, and it Will be re-
membered that a prominent member of
the Dutch chamber. who had previously
been in charge Of an important diplo-
matte mission. openly declared that the
German emperor had sent a demand for
the fortifcation of Flushing to the
queen. eouched in the terms Of an ulti-
macum of a threatening character.
Germany's Wary Plan.
A glance at the map shows the rea-
son for Germany s insistencs on the
fortifeation of Flushing. The port
stands at the mouth OF the Scheldt, and
the guns OF fort built there win be
effective against fleet seeking to 60
nn 70 M
The Germans fear that in the event
of war between England and Germany,
British ships would convey troops up
the river and land them in Belgium;
hence the anxiety to have strong de-
fences at the mouth Of the river At
the outbreak Of war, Flushing would
be immediately seized by Germany and
the fort manned by Germans.
In Belgium and France the surrender
of the Dutch is greatly regretted,
though there is no bitter feeling against
Holland
Protests of Belgium.
1t was understood months ago that
the protests of Belgium, re-echoed so
strongly in France and England, had
determined the Dutch government 60
abandon the idea of these dangerous
two-edged Flushing forti6cations, and
ward again it is yielding to the direct
OF indirect pressure Of Germany.
In any case the plan will not be
officially submitted TO the Dutch
parliament before fresh protests arise
in Belgium, not against the project Of
the fortifcations themselves, which
the Dutch are quite entitled to carry
against the Dutch assumption OF the
right to block the Scheldt at their own
will and discretion. despite the danger
to which such action might expose
Belgian territory and the interests OF
French and British belfigerents versus
German forces
A diplomatic attempt win no doubt
he called for by public opinion to &C.
cure from the Dutch government
formal pledge that the Flushing forts
shall be only used for the purposes OF
Dutch self-defeuse, and not TO deprive
Antwerp and the rest OF Belgium OF
possible help from outside.
Diplomatic Conference,
According to private information,
means OF persuasion other than mere
friendly request will probably be re-
sorted 20 If Queen Wilhelu,ina Is gov
ernment remains deaf to the latter.
The Dutch government has been for
a long time anxious to induce Belgium
to canalize that portion of the river
Meuse which flows on it's territory, be-
tween the Netherlands and biege, be-
cause such a canal and the low freight
rates II would bring about would be
tho means of sending to Rotterdam the
whole of the navigation traffic Of Enst
Belgium, which now goes to benefit
Antwerp. Antwerp strongly objects,
of course, to this Dutch dream. unless
Il can obtain. as compensation, the cut
ting of canal--free from toll--con,,
Meeting the Scheldt with the Dutch and
German branches Of the Rhine,
The whole matter is soon to be made
the subject Of diplomatic conference
md then will be the latter's oppor-
tnnitv to raise the question of tho free
..A g. nf The Snholdi in var time.