The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-10
HELIGOLAND, A GERMAN
DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH

Diplomatic bungling on the part of
Germany is responsible for the pres
ent world situation, and more parti-
cularly for the array of governments
hostile to the Teutons In one in
stance, however, she, "got away with
it." and what is more bested her pres
emit worst senemy, England, past mas
ter in the art of diplomacy. That ldi-
plomatic triumph of Germany result
ed in the acquisition of Heligo1and,
which alone today protects Germany
from the most powerful aggregation
of warships that the world has ever
seen.
Rising two hundred feet from the
waters of thes North Sea, this island
of Heligoland the Germans call 1t Hell
goland. was in peace times merely a
summer resort, with a lighthouse ana
a village, inhabited mainly by fish
'erfolk. With the outbreak of the war
between England and Germany it has
become g. place of tremendous import
ance and well merits the title OF Ser
man Gibraltar Heligoland, which
means holy land, commands the en-
trance to the. Kiel Canal, protects
the mouth of the Elbe with its great
port Of Hamburg and the mouth Of
the Weser with its flourishing city of
Bremen, and serves as shield for
the German navy, riding at anchor in
the Jade at Wilhelmshaven.
F It is small wonder that the Germans
have made the 10th of August the oc-
casion for a celebration, for it was
on that date in 1890 that the Ger
man emperor visited the island and
took formal possession. under the
terms of the treaty negotiated with
England.
Heligoland was originally Danish
possession. but it was taken over by
England in 1907, and confirmed to
Great Britain by the treaty Of 1914.
The English did little in the way of
making the island strategic point,
and the average Englishman hardly
knew that such an island existed I'M
til the announcement Of its transfer
to Germany in 1890 brought out a
storm of disapproval. In England the
value of Heligoland as naval station
was strongly insisted upon by many
writer's, and Lord Salisbury was Bit
terly criticised for making the trans
fer. The inhabitants Of the island
were also clamorous in their opposi-
| ton to the change. but the wishes of
a few fishermen and. pilots were not
permitted to weigh in a matter affect
In taking possession of the island
the Kaiser issued a proclamation in
which he promised to look after the
welfare of the people, and announced
that all living males would be exempt
ed from compulsory military service.
The fear that they would be forced
into. the German army or navy was
the principal reason for the opposi-
ton Of the Heligolanders to the
change in government. The Kaiser S
promise was not kept, for Germany
had no sooner taken possession than
many Of the islanders were expropri-
1 ated Of their land, receiving a goodly
sum in payment. This was far from
satisfactory to them, for they were
much attached to their island home,
which had been the abode of their an
cestors for generations. The process
| of developing the island into a great
naval stronghold caused the civil pop
ulation to dwindle. A day or two be.
fore the outbreak of the war the few
remaining Helgolanders not connect
| ed with the government service were
removed to the mainland. Most OF
the men Of military age who were
formerly residents of the islands have
/ been forced into the army or navy
thus realizing the worst fears OF the
islanders when Heligoland was taken
over by the Kaiser. The HeGgoland-
ers were pacifists almost to man
and had an unusual adherence of war
In return for Heligoland Germany
gave up territory in Africa almost as
large as Germany itself, but it can
not be said that the transaction was
profitable to England. 1t is from
Heligoland that most Of the ssupma.
rines go forth on their mission Of de-
struction. OF late there has been talk
in certain naval circles of combined
naval attack on Heligoland, but wiser
heads have prevailed and have proved
the utter impossibility of an attack b,
sea on the great stronghold.
The fellows who won't enlist be-
cause they don't want to give up thei,