Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-18
HOLLAND IS PREPARED
TO DEFEND HERSELF
Keeps Formidable Army In Training,
and Has Efficient Fleet Ready
for Service.
NATION AWARE OF DANGEF
Statesmen Forming Government
Know That Necessity for Striking
Blow May Arise With Terrible
Suddcnness.
AMSTERDAM. HOLLAND. April Il

AMSTERDAM. HOLLAND. April IT,
formidable army and n small but ef-
fcient fleet not to be despised when
taken In conjunction with her power
full coast defcnses. TO be prepared for
tho eventuality of having to defend
herself In case she is threatened from
any side during the great European
war.
Tho nation to a man /. fully aware
2 OF the fact that It's armed forces may
at any moment be called upon 10 strike
a blow to maintain its neutrality. and
the statesmen forming the government
know that this necessity may arise
with terrible suddenness
The Dutch land forces. in times OF
peace almost insignificant In numbers
as compared with the millions OF men
composing the Continental armies OF
the great powers, have since their mo-
Utilization at the beginning Of tho war
been augmented by tho calling up OF
reserves until they now total over
100000 men. Altogether. seventeen
yearly classes of troops. averaging
about $4,000 men for each year. from
1892 to 1915. inclusive. have been called
70 the oolors. Seven OF the classes.
composed OF the younger men. belong
TO the LRndwchr and the other ten TO
tho militia. Since August the men
have been constantly exercised, and
they have now reached n condition OF
preparedness and fitness such as never
has been known In the Dutch army.
The army, ms Il at present is or
Eanizcd, comprises, first. the field army
of approximately 10000 men: second.
the troops forming the city garrisons
wherever they might be most required.
The field army. which would bear the
burden OF resisting any attack on
Dutch territory, is not divided into
army corps, but is formed into four
divisions. each composed OF forces of
all arms-cavalry, infantry. artillery,
engineers and transport-and these
occupy strategic points.
The garrison troops occupy the
= larger cities and forts. and would not
be called on TO take the field
The surplus army is distributed all
over the country in training depots
where tho men are continually drilled
an field work, digging trenches. erect
ing wirs entanglements, shooting and
Carrying out long route marches.
Besides the resistance to an invader
offered by the field army. Holland pos
eesses what is regarded az its best
defensive asset in the shape OF its sys-
tenn OF inunda;ion. details Of which
are kept strictly secret. Ii is known
however, that large tracts OF territory
can In short time BIO covered with
water to a considerable depth by the
piercing OF the bikes protecting the
low-lyinG country from encroa chmcnt
by the sea, for great part of Holland
lies below sea level.
Should the field army be defeated
In Its encounters with an invader. II
would retire behind the first line of
water defense after resisting long
enough for the inundation to become
effective. In the unlikely event OF the
enemy overcoming the difficulties OF
The Hooded country in this first zone.
the field army would retire behind the
second water line Enclosing the larger
cities. which il would then defend
with the assistance OF the l.andwchr
and Landsturin already there
Frederick the Great. IN discussing
the invasion Of Holland is recorded as
having said. 1T IS no use my attempt
Ing TO march my six foot soldiers into
a country covered with seven feet OF
water" This difficulty SIN exists. and
makes II stupcndous Undertaking
for any army to attempt the conquest
OF Holland from the land side
AS to It's .Maval defenscs. Holland
makes no professions 10 be among the
nrst-cless powers The hluc1ackets
" rank among the best in the world. and
they have the tradition OF centuries
behind them. hut the vessels which
they man are small. and wound have
very little chance In an encounter with
1he heavy ships OF the bigger nations.
Tho most powerful OF the Dutch YES
sells. De Zcven Provincicn, displaces
only $3.50 tons, and there are five
others OF about 5000 tons each. All Of
them with speed of about sixteen
knots. Some OF them arc fifteen wears
old: Coast defense vessels protected
cruisers. RUnhoats. destroyers and Tor
psdo boats, some OF them modern
Others old, make up the rest Of The
reet. which, however. possesses very
good guns. There are also half a
dozen submarines built within the las,
Few years, and strong movement has
been started TO accelerate IN. co,
struction OF large number of rhcs,
craft
Const defense IN Holland is very
powerful many thirty-two.c.n,im.,a,
guns being IN position AZ all vital
points. while extensive min. fields uro
teot the ports and river mouths md
The coast is well supplied with Tor.
pedo stations. from which In. pro,.c
f1}e can be launched against any an