The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-01
Open to Attack.

1t must be a relief to the German
admiralty to know that Helgoland has
no strategical value as a fleet base.
The only way in which a fleet might
use 1t would be to use the waters to
the east and northeast Of 1t as an
anchorage, but this would be wide open
to submarine attack.
Had Helgoland been British at the
beginning of the war and had it been
fortified with British guns it is diff
cult to see what would have taken
place. 1t Is probable that before long
there would have been a decisive fleet
action over it.
Less than 80 years ago it did belong
to England. 1t was acquired by Eng
land in 1907 from Denmark, when the
prospective seizure of it by Napoleon
menaCed England's mastery Of the sea.
1t was George Canning who, after the
treaty of Tilsit, when Napoleon and
Alexander were trying to force Den
mark into a maritime league against
England, bombarded Copenhagen and
seized Helgoland, thus returning a
prompt and decisive answer to Ma
p~oleon's demand for the freedom o.
the seas"
Helgoland was coded to England in
1915 and remained in English hands
until 1890. During all those years 1t
enjoyed the reputation of a sort of At
lantic City set down in the North sea,
1t became one of the most popular OF
the summer resorts available to Eng
lishmen and a place where the aver
age Englishman could gain the impress
sion Of being in a foreign country with
u going to the trouble of learning a
foreign language. During none of this
time was it defended. 1t wasn't worth
defending.
Project Received.
In 1883 Germany BEGAN maneuverine
to secure it, She was then trying to
foil England in Africa and suggested
the exchange of Helgoland in return
bar, Bismarck announced. Furthermore
that Germany intended to construct a
canal to the Baltic which, he said,
would offer great advantages to Eng
land, and that for the protection OF
this canal Ohe Kiel canaD Germany
Notifications on Helgoland, the ad-
vantages of both to be given freely tc
English as well as German vessels.
The project fell through in 1883, but
was revived in 1890. Bismarck Offered
in exchange for Helgoland that Ger
many would not oppose a British pro
teCtorate of Zanzibar, and Lord Sails,
bury made a speech in parliament
which has been quoted widely since
he present war began. Of what use
he asked, was such a harborless, un
fortified rock as Helgoland to Great
Britain? If Britain were at war with
Germany it could easily he captured
and Britain exposed thereby to grave
humiliation.
He wound up by hoping that 1.-THE
bargain which gave neither power an
advantage over the other would ce-
ment the friendship of the two coun.
tries and remove all danger of future
conflict"
The cession of Helgoland to Ger.
many in 1890 created the Widest en-.
thusiasm in hat country. The kaiser
to take formal sovereignty and to be-
gin the fertilization of Helgoland
What had been a watering place was
now converted into the greatest fort
ress the world has ever known, where
from that day to this, no alien has evel
stepped,
Kaiser's Hobby.
When the peace conference meets tn,
problem of Helgoland will be one o
the thousands of problems to come be
fore II. No injustice will be done I
England again gains control of II. Tn,
forts will be dismantled and the sol
diers who have manned them will b.
sent away, And there will be few per
sons left on the little rock to care abou
its future. The bathing machine will
go back and Helgoland will once again
become a pleasure spot In the Nortl
sea.
Doubtless the new Germany which Il
coming into being win be glad to Sc,
1t 90. II was one OF the late kaiser
greatest hobbies. To-day this ~trouser,
button holds our whole suit together
he said a year ago., in referring to Hell
goland.
Proof against attack from the sea
ii has VERBALLY been an impregnabl,
outpost for the German navy in thi
war. Back of it the Elhe and the Kie
canal have been immune from allie,
attack. German submarines have en-,
joyed twice the liberty they would hay,
enjoyed had Helgoland been in Englisl
hands, and the kaiser had almost sue
ceeded in his pleasant dream of max