The Alaska daily empire., 1915-09-28
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"The great war harbor of Kiel is one of the finest and most powerful ly protected harbors in the world. The sea arm, whose base is inclosed by the port, has narrow entrance and along, irregular surface. The en- trance and the stragetic points along the banks are heavily fortified. The Falkenstein and Fort Stosch guard the narrows about three and one.half miles above the town. Thanking the northern termination 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 communication with the North Sea, and unites of the Kaiser's navy can be transferred rapidly and safely from the war theatre of the open ocean to that of the Baltic Cea-
 "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 Q water route through the northern peninsula which would avoid the dangerous voyage around Jutland were considered spas medically from 1900 on, but 1t re- mained to the military necessities ofI a great empire to bring about the realization of this advantageous wat erway for trade. Any number of bash nl beginnings of the projected way were made before the construction of the present canal was undertaken by the first German Emperor. Kaiser Wilhelm l laid the foundation stone of the canal in 1887, and the costly avenue was formally opened by the present emperor in 1895 The origi- nal canal has been extensively im- proved.
 "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 serv- ing to neutralize the tides. It is 60 miles long. with a depth of more than 90 feet and width sufficient to pass the largest men-ofwar. A steamer takes between eight and nine hours to pass through the canal, thus bring ing 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 S29.O0O.OOO Other millions have been expended in its improvement. Regular steamer excursion service was maintained here before the war, but the voyages offered little of inter est besides steep banks and here and there spiritless scenery.
 Foreigners Barred
 Great imperial docks. arsenals and navy yards are located at Riel, as are also admiralty headquarters and the imperial naval academy Foreigners 1 were not admitted to the docks and yards. Many thousand visitors regu- l larly visited Kieler Roche (Kiel ! week.. the great German regatta held each year during the latter part of June This regatta was an event Of first importance in the world of inter national sport. and yachts from all nations interested in water sports were annually entered in its famous races. The yacht Hohenzollern. ! housing the Emperor and the imperial family, became each year the central point of the gay. rich cosmopolitan l throng of sportsmen.
 "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 flanked and gnarled, time-tor- tured buildings. The new town. how ever is well planned and is filled with handsome structures. The city has grown in every way industrially and since becoming naval headquarters for the empire and of the greatest sport event upon the German