Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-02
NATURE Is HOLLANDS FRIEND
In Case OF Invasion the Sea VIII Come
tO the Rescue,

Although Providence has given tho
Dutch an eVerpresent enemy in the
restless North sea and Zuyder Zee,
which have so frequently dealt death
and destruction to the peaceful plains
of Holland, they also have In these
ficl1le forces a trusty friend which can
at any moment be summoned to their
assistance, as was the case during
the terrible Spanish invasion, when
the defenders of Alkmaar drove off
it's beslegers by cutting the dikes and
flooding the country.
Holland Is well prepared against
invasion. The Dutch frontier on the
German side is about two hundred
miles long, and its northern portion
could be easily defended by the use
OF the numerous morasses and bogs
found In northeastern Holland. With
this plan in view, a new line of de-
fense was drawn In 1874, when meas
ures were taken with the object of
protecting north and south Holland
and part of Utrecht. This part of the
North sea coast, owing to the lack Of
harbors, is practically inaccessible,
and the Zuyder Zee, which Is eX-
tremely shallow, is capable OF being
closed by fortified works outside Of
Helder
IOIly HllltS VI llc fdSltll lIOHNltl
is now defended by the fortresses of
Muiden and Naarden. in the center OF
the Utrecht region, and Is forts and
batteries toward the south Of Cor
KUN. The intermediate stretches have
been closed by extending the canal
system in such a manner that the
whole region between Mulden and
Gorkum can be flooded to a breadth
OF four miles. This is the more easy
as the greater portion of the land In
the flooded area is below the sea
level.
The Dutch, however were not sat
isfied with these precautions. The
water courses might freeze, as In the
past. Therefore, behind the Muiden-
Gorkum line seven block forts Of
fortified redoubts were erected at in
tervals OF two miles. and also the
fighting fort Of Nieuwersluis. Be
hind the Utrecht-Gorkum water-line
OF defense there are 10 more block
forts, at intervals OF from two to
three miles, strengthened with bat
teries
A block fort is an infantry redoubt
only intended for quick-flring guns
Of light caliber, and not constructed
with the idea of resisting heavy pro
iectiles, which, owing to the broad
stretches of water, could with diff
Guilty be used A fighting fort is
protected by concrete roofs and iron
cupolas from the fire OF howltzers and
mortars, and is also supplied with ar
tillery capable of resisting siege guns.
In similar manner the Dutch pro-
tected their equally long southern
front from Gorkum to Briel, outside
Of which there il the broad delta of
the Mas, and behind more points OF
resistance for infantry. Altogether.
the positions are about eighty miles
i'm extent.
As 1t Is estimated that every kilo-
meter requires for It's defense 1000
men, about one hundred and twenty
thousand men are required for the de-
fense of this region. This Is the pre-
else strength OF the present Dutch
army, which should be able TO defend
this portion OF Holland against a
force OF double It's strength as long
as it Is converted by means of water
ways into fortified isldnd.-New
York Times.