Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-23
THE CITY OF KEEL
ANCIENT GERMAN STRONGHOLD.
Finest and Most Powerfully Protected
Harbor iH the World.
lSpeciai ID The BuIletinl

Especial to The BulletinO
Washington D. C. aug. 22.-"Built
up around the deep pocket OF the
Keller Foehrde, a narrow arm Of the
Baltic Sea that cuts its way back
into the province of Holstein, the old
city of kiel lies 'weIl-shielded from
all hostile attack and centrally placed
for the use. of the feet, either upon
the open ocean or upon the inland
sea-" begins a bulletin just prepared
by the National Geographic Society.
'Thfw ancient port city is headquarters
for German sea strength, the first
naval station of the Empire, the point
from which the orders have been is
sued directing the unequal duel be-
tween the ships of the Kaiser and the
fleets of Britain.
"The great war-harbor Of Kiel is
one OF the finest and most powerfully
protected harbors in the world. The
sea Alarm. whose base IS enclosed by
the port has narrow entrance and
a long, irregular surface. The entrance
and the strategic points along the
bank are heavily fortified. Fort
Falkenstein and Fort StoSch guard the
narrows about L. miles above the
town. Thanking the northern termina-
ton of the new Kiel suburbs, the
Kaiser Wilhelm Canal, triumph of
patience and engineering, cuts its way
into the sheltered bay. By means of
this canal Kiel is in close communi-
cation with the North Sea, and units
of the Kaiser's navy can be trans
ferred rapidly and safely from the
war theatre of the open ocean to that
of the Baltic.
The Kaiser Wilhelm Canal or the
Baltic Ship Canal is the product of
an idea which ripened through CEN
turies- Projects for connecting the
Baltic and North Seas by a water
route through the northern peninsula
which should avoid the dangerous
voyage around Jutland were consid-
cred spasmodicalIy from 1900 on, but
it remained to the military necessities
of a great Empire to bring about the
realization of this advantageous water
way for trade. Any number of bashful
beginnings of the projected way were
made before the construction of the
present canal was undertaken by the
first German Emperor. Kaiser VIII
helm laid the foundation stone of the
canal in 1887, and the costly avenue
was formally declared open by the
present Emperor in 1895. The original
canal has been extensively improved
The canal crosses the peninsula,
from Holtenau just beyond the north
ern suburbs of Kiel to Brunsbuettel at
the mouth of the Elbe, at sea level,
the locks at. either end merely serving
to neutraliZe the tides. 1t is so miles
long, with a depth of more than 80 feet
and width sufficient to pass the
largest men-of-war. A steamer takes
between s and hours to pass through
the canal. thus bringing the advance
German naval base at Heligoland
within easy reach of the Kiel head
quarters. The whole way at night is
lighted by electricity The first cost of
the Baltic Ship Canal was $50 ,000, 900.
Other millions have been expended in
it's improvement. Regular steamer ex-
cursion service was maintained here
before the war, but the voyage offered
little of interest besides steep banks
and here and there spiritless scenery.
Great Imperial docks, arsenals and
navy yards are located at Kiel, as are
also Admiralty headquarters and the
Imperial naval Academy. Foreigners
were not admitted to the docks and
yards. Many thousands of visitors
regularly attended Keller Woche
(Kiel Week.. the great German regat-
ia held each year during the latter
part of June. This regatta was an
event of first importance in the world
of international sport, and yachts
from all nations interested in water
sports were annually entered in its
famous races. The Yacht Hohenzol-
lern, housing the Emperor and the
Imperial family. builded each year the
central point of the gay, rich, cosmo-