The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-01-02
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tBy United Press,
London. Dec. 20 -{gy Msil.,-The
Germans built great "trainsheds" in
the water to shelter their submarines
at Bruges. Belgium. from bombs
dropped from the air.
The sheds have concrete roofs IL
feet thick, and are of massive pro-
portions From early in 1917 until
the Huns were forced TO abandon
Bruges altogether. 1000 workmen
wei employed in building the great
sheEis for the undersea boats.
Hundreds OF concrete pillars. each
two feet thick ard % feet high, sup
ported the heavy roof. Eight OF the
shelters had been completed. and the
ninth was being built. when the Ger
mans decided 10 run along home.
In the very early days of the war
the Germans clearly planned the har-
bors at Zeebrugge and ostend as per-
manent bases and repair stations for
their submarines. the original boats
being built at the Hoboken works.
pear Antwerp. The first large repair
Works appear to have been situated
al the Atelier de la Marine at Os-
tend. but it is probable that the docks
at Bruges. which are connected with
zeebrugge by ship canal. were being
developed at an early period OF the
war.
Largely owing to offensive naval
operations of the Belgian coast. as
sisted by aircraft the two shelters be-
came exceedingly unhealthy shelters
for such comparatively fragile craft
as submarines. and after the lombard
ment of May. 1916. the large floating
docks OF Ostend were towed round to
Zecbrugge and so up to Bruges.
Following up this initial victory
with great vigor. British sirmen COM
uienced in January. 1917. an intensive
bombing campaign. directed chiefly
against the docks nj Bruges. the lock
gates and harbor at ZeebruEge. and
the ship canal itself. which was. of
course. the only outlet by which the
submarines could gain access TO the
sea.
Some idea OF the severity of these
attack may be gained from the fact
that no fewer than s,l32 bombs were
dropped upon Hrugcs dock alone.
while = similarly large number were
dropped upon zeebrugge and Ostend-
, Apart from the immense and CON
tinuous damage caused to the Mole.
sidinEs. Quays. railways and shipping
at Zccbrugge. the ,ock-gates them.
selves singuariy difficult TARGET to
hts even from 4 low heiEht-wcre kept
practically always under repair In
decd. Oh several occasions, as the re-
suit OF direct hits By Brftish airmcn.
one OF the gates had TO be removed by
immense floating cranes. and . spare
gate fitted. the damaged gate being
towed lnboriousiy to Brugcs for repair
IN dry dock.
Owing TO the great damage which
was caused by the Germans upon
their evacuation OF the docks. !, -
difficult to diferentiate between their
deliberate work ard the distinctions
resulting from the terrific bombing
from The air during the last few
months OF the war. Information
from various sources. however. makes
1t abundantiy clear that thesenemy's
decision TO give up the Port OF Bruges
as a repair base for submarines. was
, in the main, due to his inability to
defend II against the increasingly
powerful attacks from the air.
The biggest explosion ever expe-
rienccd in Bruges was caused by
British airmen at La Brugcoise works
May 81. 1915 The concussion was
felt all over the city. and the flames
lit up the sky for many miles around.
II is said that the explosion wrought
30 much destruction OF valuable ma
chinery that work was never prop srly
resumed in these extensive factories.