Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-09-07

otnef nations OF Europe modified. AS
a result the neutrality of the ountry
has been vigorously respected.
From the year 1915 ON, every boy in
the kingdom has been obliged to pre-
pare For military service. 1t is not de-
slrable to give the exact number of
soldiers in the army which has been
modified since July of the year 1914.
But in a general way we can state tha
every male being IN the country who is
of good physical condition and who
can walk with a gun across his Shout
ders has in some direct or indirect
fashion given part of his time and his
services for the benefit of his country.
The old law, which made an exception
for only sons, was rescinded several
years ago. The Napolenic system, which
allowed rich young men to buy them
selves out of the army, has been abol-
shed. The army is now a democratic
school, in which classes are thrown to-
gether for one common purpose.
"lIvery young man who has reached
the age of 10 years ppear at his
special garrison. For a full year he is
instructed in the rudimentary princi-
pies of a soldiers trade. If he cares to
enter the special service of artillery,
aircraft, or submarine work, he will
have to spend one or two years more.
In that case, however, he learns a USE
! full trade which will help his chances
in his future work. When he has been
taught his business ne goes back into
private life. Except for a short annual
maneuver, he has nothing further To do
with the military system until a sudden
emergency shall call him back to the
polorS.
Holland can hope to accomplish
great things With comparatively weak
forces, because it has an ally mightier
than steel or iron or high explosives.
That ally is the North sea. The king
dom OF the NathprlDnS jS q mn1-hanlS
conquered from the ocean. Open the
bikes which defend the land against
the angry aggressions of the sea and
the country will disappear beneath
three feet of water. This excellent
method of defense was known to our
ancestors. 1t was first used in the year
1917. In the month Of April in that
year a number of starving Dutch revo-
lutlonists captured a small Dutch town
named Brielle. The S%paniards tried
to r%econquer it. The Hollanders opened
the locks of the Mouse, The water
came and the Spaniards went.
"A few years later the town Of Lei
den, situated in the heart of the coun-
try, was delivered from Spanish siege
by a fleet of catboats and flat bot
toned scows sailing across an i'm
promptu lake and storming Spanish
Wading sailors.
In the year 1915. when the new
ngdom of the Netherlands was de-
flnltely reconstructed, it was decided
10 use the water in a scientific fashion
for the defense of the country. The
eastern port. fla and covered with
neatn, was to be left open to invasion.
The heart of the country, nine feet be-
low the level of the sea, was to be
turned into an ingenious fortress.
AT the present time the old idea has
oeen contlnued with but small changes
a strong force of cavalry and infantry
provided with bicycles is left for the
defense of this territory. These men
try and stay the invading power
as long as possible. 1t is their duty to
destroy all bridges and to dispute any
attempt of the enemy to cross the bic
rivers. Meanwhile the regular army
has retired behind the system of for.
t~resses and in~undations, which are al
together designated as the 'waterline.'
The .Waterline' consists of two
parts. The first line Of defense Rms
from the Zuyder Zee due south to the
loWer parts of the rivers Mouse and
Rhine. 1t cuts off the provinces of
Morth n South Holland. and half OF
the province of Utrech. 1t creates
a large artificial lake from six to 10
miles vide, which covers all roads. ca
nails. bridges, railroad tracks and
fences. ~
In many places where an attac ok
might be expected, barbed wire fences
nave been constructed in such a fash
ion that they will be completely Gov
cred by water. At irregular intervals
there are more than 40 little islands
armed with heavy guns. They cover ali
the roads which in normal times cross
this territory, and they know the ex-
act range: of every foot OF ground COR
rather, mud in the wateriine.
Behind this first line OF defense
stretches the second one, which is the
most important. 1t consists of another
group Of foundations and some as for
~tiications, and forms a. broad circle OF
defense for the town of Amsterdam,
Here the strength of the country mas
been concentrated and, ever since the
beginning of the war. every lock and
every dixie have been guarded. Within
six hours his territory would be ready
to resist an invasion. Within IL hours
thousands Of acres of the most fertile
grazing land would be covered with
four feet of salt water. After q day
and night neither man nor machine
could cross the artificial sea surround-
ing the hear of the. country. The much
dreaded shells Of the heavy siege guns
would cause 3 big splash. but would do
no damage"
-A. f HE. Gl 3as EN&NI