The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-08-27
THE GREAT WAR
HARBOR OF KEEL
National Geographic Society's Wa,
Primer.


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 well-shelded from all
hostile attack and centrally placed for
the use of the feet, either upon the
open ocean or upon the inland sea-"
begins bulletin just prepared by the
National Geographic society. This
ancient port city is headquarters for
German sea strength, the first naval
station of the empire, the point from
which the orders have been issued di
recting the unequal duel between 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-arm. whose base is enclosed bv
the port, has narrow entrance and
a long, irregular surface. The en-
trance and the strategic points along
the bank are heavily fortified. Fort
Falkenstein and Fort Stosch guard
the narnows about 81 miles above the
town. Thanking the northern termina-
ton of the new kiel suburbs, the
Kaiser Wilhelm canal, a 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 transferr-
er rapidly and safely from the war
theatre of the ocean to that of the
Baltic Sea.
"The Kaiser Wilhelm canal or the
Baltic Ship canal is the product of an
idea which ripened through centuries.
Projects for connecting the Baltic and
North Seas by water route through
the northern peninsula which should
avoid the dangerous voyage around
Jutland were considered spasmodically
from 1900 on, but it remained to the
military necessities of a great en-
pire to bring about the realization Of
this advantageous waterway 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 Wilhelm | 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 Brunsbuttel at
the mouth Of the Elbe at sea level, the
locks at either end merely serving to
neutralize the tides. 1t is 90 miles
long, with depth of more than 80
feet and a width of more than suffic-
lent size to pass the largest men-of-
war. A steamer takes between 8 and
9 hours to pass through the canal,
thus bringing the advance German
naval base at Heligoland within easy
reach of the Kiel headquarters The
whole way at night is lighted by
electricity The first cost of the Baltic
ship canal was $3o,000,O00. Other mil
lions have been expended in its i'm
provement. Regular steamer excursion
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 navy academy. Foreigners
were not admitted to the docks and
yards. Many thousands of visitors
regularly attended Kiel Woche (Kiel
week., the great German regetta held
each year during the latter part of
june. This regetta was an event of in
ternational sport, and yachts from all
nations interested in water sports were
annually entered in its famous races.
The Yacht Hohenzollern, housing the
emperor and imperial family, builded
each year the central point of the gay,
rich, cosmopolitan throng of sports
men.
"Kiel is one of the oldest towns in
Holstein. The older parts of the town
are badly built, having twisting, mar
row, indifferently paved streets and
being fanked by gnarleds time-tortur-
ed buildings. The new town, however
is filled with handsome structures. and
is we'll planned The city has grown
in every way, industrially, commercial
ly, socially, artistically, since becoming
naval headquarters for the empire and
OF the greatest sporting event upon
the German sport calendar"