El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-15
Army OF 100000 Trained
To the Minute In
Efficiency. I
ONLY LACKS FOOD
AND AMMUNITION
Attack By Sea Regarded As
Impossible and Land Is
We'll Protected. I

T ONDON, Eng. April 15.-With its
army Of AGO. 900 men, trained to a
- fine point since the great war be-
gan. its two defensive water lines and
their barrier fortresses and the for
nidable coast guns, Hollands 6s25O.OOO
inhabitants are ready to offer q des-
perate and effective resistance to any
enemy.
Two things only Holland lacks. am
munitiOn and food.
If cut off from the outside world, the
doughty little state would soon suffer
from lack Of coal and iron mines TO
supply the industrial needs Of war and
from lack of the farming land capable
OF feeding all her people.
Since August !, 1914, both England
and Germany have been ready to buy
almost anything offered at a high
price and money has flowed into the
Golfers Of many Dutchmen. The ship
ping companies have grown rich
despite the vessels lost
But to counterbalance this, a great
portion OF the male population mas been
kept under arms and so Withdrawn
from fruitful labor, great tax levies
have been necessitated by the mObOli1a-
ton, and the constant fear Of embrOil-
ment with one or both OF the warning
alliances has caused sleepless nights
and restless days
An attack on Holland from the sea is
almost impossible. The coast for the
most part Is low and sandy with a
great stretch OF s1aIoW Water N N,-I-lll
prevents large boats approacnlnS
nearer than half dozen miles me
few openings at the ports are pro-
fected with cunningly planned forts
where great guns could pound hoStlle
squadron to pieces without themselves
being in serious danger.
But the unique features OF HoIland.s
defence system is on the land. II
#HaHm
would almost Immediately abandon the
eastern half OF their country NO
large cities stand here and the land
is Of little value compared with the
western half
hind what is known as the New Hol-
land water line A stretch OF
country starting from the south shore
Of the Zuider Zee and extending south
and then west until it reaches the Hol-
land Deep Just west Of the mouth OF
the River Meuse Cor Maas) would be
flooded to a depth OF one foot
Floods Would Stop Enemy.
On the west edge of this gigantic
moat stands a line Of strong fortress
ses commanding IL. The only ways
across this moat are roads, railway
lines and river banks. These are
higher than the sea level. while most
of the land is well below the sea, in
some places as much as 20 feet All
these causeWays could be raked by a
AeiLl y " ms Li4o n Otu me Deti AAeh AoL -
The Dutch could flood the country
much deeper, but they do not wish to
do so. A foot OF water prevents nav
igation even in flat bottom boats. It
also prevents Wading for several rea-
sons. The ground below the water
becomes a sOggy mass in which the
feet sink and are held. The country
is cut up with many canals, ponds and
other depressions into which soldiers
of an invading army would fan and
perish.
The Dutch have plenty Of men TO
defend this Hne-fOr an enemy could
only use a few men against them. Even
if the enemy. with incredible labor
could build enough passage way across
the water line to storm the defences
in the rear the Dutch would not have
to yield. They would then retire 10
a second and stronger water line,
starting at the same place as the first
Continued ON Page -. This SectIOn.)