Bisbee daily review., 1914-08-23
GERMAN NAVAL BASE
 WAS OBTAINED FROM
 SWAP WITH ENGLAND
Little Island of HeIigoIand in the
 North Sea Was a Mere Fish,
 ing Place When Great Britain Exchanged It For Zanzibar

INOHdIig6u u TOT EdIlZibdr
 LONDON Aug. 22. - Germany's great naval base in the North Sea ana her chief reliance for the protection of her coasts in the present war is the little island of Heliogoland. which she obtained from England quar- ter of a century ago in exchange for Zanzibar When the exchange was made Heliogoland was a mere fishing island Since then it has been trans. formed Jnto d veritable Gibraltar, with a home for all small war craft including dirigibles and waterplanes.
 In 9 speech which he delivered to his sailor escort on August 10, 1890. Emperor William said "This island is destined to be to us a bulwark on the sea- a protection for the German fisherman, a base for my warships. and a stronghold and defense for Ger man waters against any enemy who may take it into his head to show himself upon them At the time the words were received in England with a good deal of incredulity. A iibe re- peated if not invented. by Bismarck. that Germany had given away pair of trousers an dsecured button in exchange passed from mouth to mouth.
 Time has, however brought the Emperor his revenge and the doubt CTS of a score of years ago now admit. with some reservations, it is true. that his prophecy is in a fair way of tulfillment and that HeliogoIand is likely to prove a valuable mainstay in the defense O fthe German enr:re in the present titanic struggle.
 For a number of years past Ger. many has followed a policy of dis couraging the visits of any foreigners to Ilel.ogoland. But enough has been learned O fthe operations carried on there to show that the little island is one of the most formidable naval fort resses in the entire world and that it is probable as unassailable as Gi- braltar itself
 Heliogoland protects the mouths of four rivers, including the Elbe and the Weser. 4 protecting sea wall has been built round the island and from the high OberIand the biggest and best Krupp guns, on disappearing platforms, command all approaches from the sea. A tunnel pierces the island from west to north, through which ammunition and other mate. rial may be safely taken. Huge search lights discover every distant vessel at night. and there is a powerful wireless station
 The crumbling cliffs of the island have been protected against the rav- ages of the waves with long buttress- es of granite, 26 feet high and 16 feet thick Innumerable rifts and orevices have been filled with con. crete The plateau has been studded with armored casemates and sunken batteries, from which the huge guns can sweep te sea for a radius of ten miles Stately barracks and official buildings have taken the place of the humble cottages which formerly were the onl yhuman habitations on the island
 To the south of the lower part of the island a new island as arisen from the waters It is half as big as Heliogoland itself and was built of material brought rom Germany. This new island provides shelter for torpedo boats, destroyers submarines, and cruisers. On this island are also magazines and sheds for airships of all sorts