Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-06-05
SAYS ALLIES CAN
NEUTRAL|zE THE
KEEL ADVAN TAGE
VICE ADMIRAL OF THE FRENCH NAVY
SAYS STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE OF
KEEL CANAL OF No VALUE.
POINTS OUT NECESSARY OPERA
TONS 70 BRING ABOUT SITUATION.
ATTACK BY AIR AND SEA.
Thy Associated I'ressJ

IARlS, me J.-Ihc Allies could cX-
tend their blockade 80 the German coast
III the Baltic and neutralize the strate-
glc advantages of the kiel Canal. ac-
cording to Vice Admiral Deguoy of the
French navy.
The first of the necessary operations
10 accomplish this, he points out, would
DC an stack upon the canaleby al acri-
al force Of 10 to 100 units divided into
l~lotiills of 20 TO 80 machines each. One
VI the ilotlllas would attack the bridge
OF Grunthal. one the viaduct of Rends-
burg and another the bridge of Levan-
san, while three other ~ilotillas held i'll
reserve would repeat the attack after an
interval Of II 10 40 hours. The first
i~iOtillaS would resume their attack af-
ter the time required for taking on fresh
supplies ana the reserve ~flotiilas would
follow again as before.
This continuity of attack from the air
upon works known 20 be vulnerable by
rcascH of the instability of the soil In
certain places and the insufficient rein
forccment of certain bridge heads after
the enlargement Of the canal. would,
Admiral Dcguoy declares. assure oh
struttion Of sufficient duration; what
ever defensive measures the Germans
might take against these concerted at
lacks would not prevent fruitful results.
The forcing of he straits and mine
fields would involve considerable losses
from submarines before the Entente
fleets would get into effective contact
either with the German battle fleet or
The dcfruSe~ of the Elba. the Admiral
declares. but he did not think this
should he considered as prohlbitiyc Of
the effort. Admiral Deguoy discards the
hypothesis that it would he possible to
surprise The German fleet under present
coGditionS: its mobility would be such
thlI il could meet an attack ut either
md of the canal. since ii requires only
twenty four hours To pass through Elba
and he canal to the Grand Belt.
The Entente Allies could put into ac-
ton ITO vessels Of the line. of which ~
are ~drcadnanghtS ana = are projected
cruisers against 81 German dread
naughi~ and three ~ four battle crui
Sers. according 10 the Admiral'S est
maze. The Russian fleet is not included
IN these figures. but Admiral Dcgnoy
points ont that even IL the Russians
could not join the British and French
fleets they would dctach'a certain num-
her of the big German units 80 as to en-
able the allies To rreSon- al both ends
IL the canal >imalt mccusly forces out
Numbering the entire German fleet.
This estimate takes no account 81
/ probable losses IN approaching the Pc
sitinnS. and hence III Admiral holds
that effective operations ~ The air fleet
on the canal j. an essential condition
If \ successful attack. The forcing ~
shc Grand Belt AMI the Langcland Belt
IA sufficient strength ~ hlockade the
ford of Kici and the forcing from wee
In east of the Febrmann Belt. Admiral
Deguov declares i. Notwithstanding the
mine field asd submarines. far easier
than the forcing IF the Dardanellcs ana
entirely feasibl ewith the cooperation OF
an aerial fleet.