Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-10-03

ARE MUCH IMPROVED


WASHINGTON, d, c., Oct. g.
"Kronstadt, the island that guards
the imperial city Of Russia, Petro-
grad, is the most strongly fortified
place in the northern empire be-
gins a statement on war geography
just given out by the National Geog-
raphic society. THE Notifications on
the island were begun by Peter the
Great in 1908, after the dispossession
of the Swedes. They have been added
To- and strengthened by many first
rank engineers in every reign since
then, until today they form a for
midable obstacle to any fleet that
rides the seas krOnstadt is the port
and outpost defense of the Russian
capital, the seat of the Russian ad-
miralty, and the first naval station
of the Tsar. The port city is sit
uated on the island of Kotlin, though
it is generally written Of under the
name of its well known port city.
Thrcc-Dcckcr Forts.
THE older three-deckcr' forts OF
Kronstadt, five in number, repulsed
the ~Anglo-Frcnch fleet during the
Crimeau war. These rcdoubts to-
day, although mounting modern ord
nance, are largely obsolete, but pow
erful forts and suuken batteries have
been installed to keep pace with tho
development Of the naval strengths
of neighboring states. The defensive
works of the island and adjacent
shores have been carried out on an
extensive plan, much Of it being done
according to the specifications of
Todleben, modified and brought up
to date by succeeding engineers. Fort
Constantine and four batteries were
constructed by Todleben to defend the
principal, or southern approach, while
seven batteries were placed to guard
the shallower northern channel. The
modern works are low, powerfully ar
mOred and reinforced, and mounting
heavy Krupp guns in turrcts, Earth
works link up the chains of TcdOubts.
Notable Island.
THE island on which Kronstadt
stands, lying nearly in mid-channel at
the head of the Gulf of Finland. is
the front door of Russia. Ii is so
situated as to make the lombard
ment of the capital impossible before
the passage of the forts and batteries.
The island Is twenty-one miles west of
PetrOgrad, and stretches for eight
miles, east and west, in the midst OF
the pOcket-like gulf. Its guns are
within easy range of the shores to
the north and south. thus enjoying
perfect command of the channels be-
tween, and their effectiveness extends
we'll into the country beyond the
water. 1t is fortified by parallel lines
on the northwest, southwest and
southeast. The southern line of de-
lenses is the strongest. Altogether.
the island leaves little in the way of
military supremacy to Heligoland and
Gibraltar.
FORMERLY most of the imports into
Russia by way of P%etrograd were
landed at kronstadt, and thence taken
to the capital by lighters and by land
Caualization, however, has made it
possible for larger frcighters to reach
the Pctrograd docks, and this has
somewhat cut down the importance
Of KTonstadt as a commercial harbOr.
The port city is situated at the east,
crn base of the island, well sheltered
from hostile attack, and it commands
three harbOrs. The commercial har-
Dor has wharfage and anchorage fol-
Il thousand ships. The central harbor
is equipped for the building and repair
ing of merchant vessels, while the re.
naming harbor is devoted to naval
usage. 1t is equipped with excellent
machine shops, drydoCks and other
factories peculiar to the modern navy
yard. This harbor offers a secure
anchorage to the Russian war YES
sells, behind the island and protected
by the weight of powerful fortifica-
tiOns."