Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-27

LONDON, aug. Zl.-lne Mel Cdndl
probably will play an important part
in the present war. BY using this
waterway through Schleswig Holstein
the Germans will be able to concen-
trate their whole fleet in either the
Baltic or North sea at almost a mo-
ment's notice
In her war with Russia the mas
terry of the Baltic would be of the
greatest value TO Germany. The Rus
SLAMS have only a few large ships in
the Baltic. After destroying the Rus
sian fleet the Germans could embark
a large army and land it in the vicinity
of ST. Petersburg. provided they need
not fear the Intervention of the British
fleet
In a few weeks Germany could
transport a large army to. the neigh
borhood of st. Petersburg and seize
the more important Russian capital.
II would also enable the Germans
to take Moscow more easily. for the
road from st. Petersburg to Moscow
is shorter than that from the Ger
man frontier to Moscow. and no for
tresses and prepared positions would
be encountered on the way.
Under these circumstances II is
clear that Germany must feel
strangely tempted to lay her hands
upon Denmark, and she is not I'M
prepared for such a step. Her feet
has frequently taken soundings in
Danish waters, her sailors have been
with them and landing
maneuvers on a large scale have been
carried out in the vicinity. Possibly
the British feet would come to the
aid OF Denmark in such a contin-
gency.
Two ways lead from the North
sea to the Baltic. The one is round
Skagen. through the Kattegatt and
the Danish passages. The other is
the Kiel canal. The Kiel
canal connects KieI harbor with the
mouth of the EIbe. In front OF the
Elbe mouth there are extensive sand
banks and in front of these is the
powerful island fortress OF Heligo-
land. Moreover the openings OF the
canal at KieI and in the Elbe are
very strongly fortified. Thus the
canal can neither be taken by an at
Elbe mouth and KEEL Bay be blocked
by sinking ships.
Near the Elbe mouth lies VIII
Almost unnoticed, the
German fleet may be transferred
from its Baltic 10 its North sea base, |
and vice versa. Round Skagen. by
the Great Belt. the distance between |
the two ports is $50 miles. BY the |
KieI channel It is only so miles. An
enemy blockading the two German |
war harbOrs must place two squadrons |
al, or near. their mouths, which are ]
separated by $50 miles. BY using the
private passage OF the Kiel canal the
Germans may be able rapidly to con-
their whole fleet in either sea
and fall on one OF the squadrons with
heir combined strength.
The KieI canal, which allows the
German feet to slip almost unnoticed
rom the one sea to the other. which
an neither be taken nor blocked
rom the sea, and which allows the
iivided fleets to effect a junction in
/ few hours and so attack by sur
rise a divided enemy. doubles. in
words, the strength OF
he German navy.
The canal was completed only last
month. That event was celebrated
" international festivities in which
British warships took part Men
yell acquainted with German affairs
oretold that Germany would not be
eady 20 strike until the canal was
ompleted. Perhaps the outbreak of
he war nearly Immediately after its
ompletion was not merely a coinci-
ence-
Jack Lait's new play is now called {