Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-05-02
HOLLAND UNDER MAILED FIST


Washington, u. c., April 26.-Ger-
many Is holding the mailed fist over
Holland t o enforce sanction of supply
shipments through hat country int"
Belgium.
In her desperate efforts to drive TO a
decision OF the west front Teuton di-
plomacy is once more showing its ruth
less disregard for the rights of neu-
trails.
The situation appeared fraught with
war possibilities, but there was .
strange dearth OF official news here
concerning development.
If war m Germany would un
doubtedly seek to plow through Ho:-
land. opening q path to Belgium which
she wants for troops and supplies. Hoi-
lands border is we'll protected by high
ly traine troops, but II is doubtful that
the Dutch could withstand .ong any
serious attempt at invasion.
1t is held certain here that Holland
will not agree to Germany's demands
unless she is willing to sacrifice her
neutrality.
'Twixt Devil and Deep Sea.
Holland knows that If she throws her
lot in with the Germans tho allies are
in a position to take virtually all her
ships and her colonies.
Hence the little neutral's position be-
comes graveiy dangerous. II the Brit
ish have succeeded in bottling up the
German U-boat outlet at Ostend and
drastic action in Holland or see her
submarine campaign utterly fail.
German designs On The Netherlands
are of long standing. Some years be-
fore the van German Influence sought
to drive q measure through the Dutch
parliament to fortify the mouths of the
scheldt-thus affqrding protection
against attack from the sen. This was
aimed at Great Britain and England
protested so strongly as to constitute
Il virtual unanimous majority and the
bill vas defeated.
Military experts here believe that un-
less allied forces are sent to Hollands
aid it would require scarcely more than
500, 900 Germans to overrun the little
country.
Holland Well Fortified.
This will depend on Hollands deter
or SWIM" The scheme OF defense of the
little neutral embodies concentration
of her forces in q restricted area--"the
Holland fortress"--con1prising the pro-
vinces OF north and south Holland.
with parts of iceland and Utrecht. Two
sea-. On the land side are strongly
established military works. rendered
exceedingly difficult Of attack by mum
cations.
The German land approaches to the
Holland border are hilly. Amsterdam
is we'll fortified and there also are In
undations which might preclude sue
cessful attack by the Germans.
Control of the foundations mas not
been entirely in military hands. how
ever. and the fear is expressed here
that Germany's long arm of intrigue
may have stretched to, the point where
the flooding Of the country to pre-
German agents.
TO HOLD ALL lAN0sTURM.
Amsterdam. April 26.-The minister
of defense declares the situation rem
ders necessary the maintenance of the
maximum g for LandSturmers.
The cable may refer to some agita-
ton for reduction in the age limit OF
members Of the Landsturm. the last
military reserve.
MiNisTERs WITHDRAWN.
Washington, ID. G.. April 26.-Of-
ficials of the Netherlands legation. al
though without Information from their
government regarding reports that the
German minister had left The -ffague
ard. that the Dutch minister to Ger
many had left Berlin. thought today
this liz not necessarily mean n break
in diplomatic relations between Ger
many and Holland. They said that in
the course Of negotiations between the
tvnn r01,nfriAa tho ~3niatora Ppnri,nutCSy