Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-04
HOLLAND READY FOR WAR
Formidable Army in Training and
Ready to Move in Case Its
Territory Should Be Invaded.
COAST DEFENSE Is STRONG, TOO

OOhoI DEE ENoE ID oIhONd, IUO
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.)
AMSTERDAM. Holland, April r.
Holland Is keeping in training \ formid-
able army and small but efficient fleet
not TO be despised when taken in con-
junction with it's powerful coast defenses.
To be prepared for the eventuality OF
having to defend itself In case II is
threatened from any side during the
great European war.
The nation to a man is fully aware OF
the fact that its armed forces may at
any moment be called upon TO strike a
blow 70 maintain its neutrality. and the
statesmen forming the government know
that this necessity may arise with terri
BILE suddenness.
The Dutch land forces. IN times of peace
almost insignificant in numbers as COM
pared with the millions OF men compos-
Ing the continental armies Of the great
powers, have since their mobilization at
the beginning of the war been augmented
by the calling up Of reserves until they
now total over 10000 men. Altogether
seventeen yearly classes OF troops, aver
aging about 1900 men for each year
from 1899 to 1915. inclusive. have been
called to the colors. Seven OF the classes,
composed of the younger mon. belong to
the landweer, and the other ten to the
militia- Since August the men have been
constantly exercised and they have now
reached condition of preparedness and
fitness such as never has been in the
Dutch army.
Formation of Army.
The q a4 a.
lied, comprises first the field army Of
approximately 5000 men; second, the
troops forming the city garrisons wher-
ever 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.
OUT is formed into four divisions. each
composed of forces of all arms-cavaIry,
infantry artillery. engineers and trans
portland 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 the men are con-
tinually drilled in field work. digging
trenches. erecting wire entanglements.
shooting and carrying out long route
marches.
BESIDES the resistance 20 an invader Of
fered by the field army, Holland DOS
sesses what is regarded as its most VAL
liable defensive asset in the shape of a
system Of inundation. details of which
are kept strictly secret 1t Ia known.
however. that large tracts OF territory
can in short time be covered with
water to considerable depth bv the
piercing of the bikes protecting the low
lying country from encroachment bv 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 da.
fence. after resisting long enough for the
lnundation to become effective In tho
event OF the enemy overcoming the die-
ficulties OF the flooded country In this
iirst zone. the field army would retire
behind the second water-line enclosing
Inc larger cities, which 1t would then de-
iend with the assistance Of the land
weer and landstofm already there
- The Same a. Then. *
tfederick the Great, In discussing the
invasion OF Holland, is recorded as hav-s
ing said; IT 10 no use IN my attempt
ing to march my six-foot soldiers into
a country covered with seven feet of
water"
This difficulty still exists and makes n
q stupendous undertaking for any army
to attempt the conquest Of Holland from
the land side.
As to its naval defences. HOLLAND nakas
no pretensions to be among the frat
oiass powers. The blue1ackets rank among
tne pest In the world and they have the
traditions OF centuries behind them. but
the vessels which they man are small and
would have very little chance in an en-
counter with the heavy ships of the bigger
nations. The most powerful of the Dutch
vessels. De zezen Procincien, dispIaces
only S'h0>tons. and there are five others
OF about 5000 tons each. all OF them with
a, speed OF about sixteen knots. Some OF
them are fifteen years old. Coast de-
Tense vessels. protecting cruisers, gun
boats. destroyers and torpedo heats. some
OF them modern. others old. make I'D tho
rest 81 the fleet. which, however, pos
sesses very good guns There are aiao
half dozen submarines built within the
last few years. and strong movement
has been started TO accelerate the con-
struction OF large number Of these
craft :.
Coast defence In Holland IL very power
ful. many % centimeter guns being IN
position at all vital points, while extern
sive mine fields protect the ports and
river mouths and the coast is wen sun
piled with torpedo stations from which
the proJectiie can be launched aRains.
any approaching vessels.