The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-08
ANTWERP A VITAL POINT
If Captured Germany Gould Cripple
British Commerce

British CommeTSe
Military men see in the German ad
vance on Antwerp an attempt to
seize that port in the interest of the
German North sea fleet.
The ships of the main German
squadron are believed to be in the
mouth of the Elbe, close to the en-
trance to the Kiel canal. The fortifi-
cations of Heligoland and on either
side of the Elbe estuary render the
Elbe anchorage safe from attack.
These Notifications are believed to
be impregnable to ship attack.
The possession OF Antwerp and
Client would put the Germans in posi-
ton to direct torpedo boat attacks
against the mouth of the Thamts and
against Sheerness and other east
coast of England ports.
The distance from Flushing at the
Scheldt mouth is SO short that torpe-
do boats could make forays on Eng
lish ports, and if unchanged could
regain port before daylight.
With the advance Of the German
army into Belgium and a possibility
CT attack on Antwerp in view, mill
tary men early perceived one of the
most cogent reasons for England dis
patching large force to the contin-
ent. Antwerp is regarded as of al
most as much Importance to England
~ nrfc OF n
Thames mouth.
The taking of Antwerp and the ut
ilization of the Scheldt for effective
operations against England may spell
trouble with Holland, says the New
York Herld but il Germany can
pass her torpedo boats down the
Rhine into the Scheldt it may mean
that she can find sea outlet west
of the scheldt, either from Belgium
or France The entire Belgian and
north French country is network
of canals, and the extent of the ton
mage handled on these inland water
ways is hardly understood by those
who have not actually traversed them
1t is a fact that torpedo boats can
pass from the Mediterranean to the
English channel without going out.
side, and torpedo boats are built in
| the interior of France and transport
cd to the north and south by water
ways. All the heavy artillery built
at the Creusot works in central
France is sent forward to the artil-
lery shops of the same company at
Hayre by water.
To Germany the possession of the
moth Belgian and north French
coast means greater bringing for
ward the numerous torpedo boat des-
troyers and submarines held in leash
in the Elbe and at Wilhelmshaven,
and is may mean that after all is
said and done it is England that Ger
many is aiming at even more than
France In this great struggle.
The defences of Antwerp. to which
city the king of the Belgians remoy-
ed his capital, are the strongest in
Belgium. They were designed as the
stragetic center of the national de
Tense OF the country and are suppos-
ed to form an intrenchment camp for
100000 men,
The length of the ence.nte is about
nine miles. The scheme included dc
tached forts. those which are on the
side not defended by inundation be
ing abou a mile and a quarter a part
and from two to three miles in front
of the enceinte They are powerful
works for a garrison of about 1000
men and are intended for an anna.
ment of 100 guns and Is mortars.
Although the system OF deienses
was adopted in 1859. the present fo..
ticaticns were started in 1878, when
i. was recognized on account of the
increased range OF artillery and the
more destructive power of explosives
1t was then decided TO change Ant
werp from a fortres to fortified 30
sition by constructing an outer line
of forts and batte-ies at a distance
varying from six to nine miles from
the enciente. This second line con-
sists Of Is forts, large and small.
Antwerp has long been regarded by
the English as port which. must Ie-
main in friendly hands. It's position
opposite the mouth OF the Thames is
too close too take chances. Napo-
leon seized this port in 1904 and i'm
dertoOk to construct a g.eat naval de
pot there. lie is said to have declar-
ed that he would make of Antwerp
"a loaded pistol to hold at the heart
Of Irpoiou1