The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-04

ing Of the approaches to the Elbe would
DO sufficient to hold at bay any naval
demonstration having the southern end
OF the kiel Canal as It's objective.
What follows? The next logical field
of attack must be the Baltic, and here
Germany offers q longer and more
! tempting expanse for assault: but the
Russian fleet cannot at this stage be
counted upon to take the initiative. the
Cars Baltic squadrons have enough 20
do II they fulfil competently role OF de-
fence. Therefore. the burden OF action
must rest upon Great Britain. and here
is where Denmark holds the keys to the
gateways TO Germany's sea washed
northern shores. Despite the imposing
array of England's dreadnoughts she Is
at a disadvantage now because OF
natural conditions and the political
situation confronting Denmark.
without celebrating upon tho physi-
! cal circumstances II is plain that Ger
many in n matter of only a few hours
can shift her hattie fleets from the Elbe
or the North Sea to the Baltic via the
Kiel Canal. or vice versa. on the other
hand, a hostile British force must trav-
erse the North Sea and skirt the coast
of Denmark by way OF the Skager Rack
and the Cattegat, all the while being
exposed TO the German sea scouts or to
| recommending Zeppelins. This trip
around at best would be a matter of
something like forty hours, and then
standing squarely in the way are the
tortuous. dangerous passages between
Denmark's blocking islands which bottle
so substantially the eastern entrances
to the Baltic Sea that that body Of water
Is well nigh n vast inland lake
There are just three routes by which
ships can get into the Baltic. This
phase Of the problem has been VERY
clearly put by ]. Ellis Barker in Mod
ern Germany" lie says:
Through the cluster OF the Danish
Islands and sand banks. which almost
close the Cattegat, three narrow and
tortuous passages lead to the Baltic.
These are the Great Belt and the Little
Belt and the Sound. and these passages.
especially the Little Belt which in parts
Is less than 1000 yards wide. have
rather the appearance Of meanderng
rivers or canals than OF sea straits.
AS both the Great Belt and the
gate the third passage. in the Sound, on
which Copenhagen IL situated, has al
which Copenhagen is situated. has al
ways been the favorfte route chosen
by the worlds shipping. Though the
easiest 1t is not the deepest passage
10 the Baltic. South Of Copenhagen the
Sound Is not sufficiently deep for the
largest warships. Therefore, these have
to pass through the more dangerous
Belts"
In order to maintain her neutral posi-
ton Denmark has spent vast sums OF
money in terrifying Copenhagen and
in strengthening the military defences.
especially along the coast OF Zealand.
In fact the Danish capital Is substan-
TALLY fortified camp, and to carry
the place by assault would be an eX-
ceed!ngly costly undertaking for any
nation. or course modern siege guns
would have little difficulty in reducing
1t by investment. but the delay would
suffice to give Germany every chance
10 strengthen her strategic grip upon
the eastern end Of the Baltic. and es-
peCialy upon the routes open to the
biggest of an enemys battleshlps.
Inasmuch as the Sound is too shall
low for dreadnoughts II is clear that
n naval foe menacng Germany via the
Danish water routes must use the
, Great Belt, and the southern outlet OF
|, this passage IL substantially nanked
by Germany's coast OF Schleswg-IIol-
stein, while the harbor of KEEL, the
. iaiser's foremost naval base, Is Almost
directly opposite this gateway. In short
, it is so placed that 1t could command
quickly any force striving to strike
. there, whether 1t came by the Sound or
, either OF the Belts.
The first serious question for the
, British navy. should 1t seek to dig out
! It's German rival. IL whether or not
Denmark can be counted upon to main