Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-06

1t has often been said that Heligo
land commands the approaches to oul
coast. Thta is not true. Heligoland
only commands a sea that lays within
the reach of the land guns on the is
land. And there is considerable ex
lpanse Of water that intervenes between
Heligoland aud our fortified island
Wangerooc, that lies about six miles to
the mainland, commanded by our Min
sen Notifications. And as every naval
officer knows that it is impossible to hit
q moving object beyond fifteen or six
teen miles, there remains an expanse of
water between the HelogOland and
Wangerooc fortifieations which is at
least eight miles wide through which
waterway an enemy vessel can navigate
and enter the Jade sea. But | would
NOT advise our enemies to make such an
attempt because the sea area between
Heligoiand and Wargerooc, that extends
beyond the ranges OF the land guns is
thoroughly mined and Il passage is I'M
possible.
Tha land force on the island itself is
composed of between 5000 or 10000 men
and there are enough provisions and mu-
nitions on the isand to withstand a
naval s;ege for eighteen months, should
it become impossible to send even loaf
of bread or bullet.
1t has often been suggested-and |
have heard it frequently since reaching
Amsterdam-tha few tons of high
explosives dropped by fleet of enemy
aeropaues would wipe the isand from the
face of the sea. The people who make
these suggestions do not know the de-
fense Of the place. Those who are in
command of our enemies naval forces
know the impossibiities confronting
such a venture. However, it is not in
otsd etao etao etao eba-, ,suletaoinnunun
the province of this article to delve into
that discussion. This much is suffi-
c',ent our enemies have not yet at
tempted such a venture.
Now let us return to the island its
elf.
Auit9lut Il DuuN VI ntHi lIOln p,NpV "
10000, stationed on the little island
which is hardly one mile long and l-3
mile at its widest. Would l would be
accused of bordering on the fantastic
if said that the whole island is like
a gigantic hotel story after story of
which has been built towards the bowels
of tie earth Every inch of the surface
of the island has been coated with con-
crete that is from fifteen to thirty-two
feet thick My fellow-officers were in
the habit of joking about it by remark
ing that the only fear they had was
that somaday the island would sink
through its immense weight. And |
still modcStly claim that our naval base
at Heligoland cannot be taken by any
collection Of enemy naval forces.
But there is one tragic drawback to
our invincible island. There is one enc
my which is slowly but resolutely eat
ing into the very heart of our mighty
race.
"Diseasel'
That is our mightiest enemy which is
undermining our otherwise invincible
stronghold
Diseases Of the most malignant and
vicious varieties; diseases as the result
of patural causes; diseases from causes
which aC unprintable and would not he
comprehepdcd even if printed; diseases
for which our foremost medical scien-
lists could not account aud diseases to
which names have not so far been given,
are the supreme, unchallenged enemies
which are today ruling the island.
have never been able to fathom why
the high command has deemed it ncces-
sary to maintain such a large force on
the island 1900 men could man the
place amply and another 500 could look
after th7 harbors, but for maintaining