Evening star., 1944-04-09
Flooding as Defense
Step Is Old Story TO
Holland Popu|ace
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,
Star War Correspondent.

III 1IoANDo4N Wy MAIL "A ldlSt
\ part of Holland may be doomed to
become a wet desert" for years.
Nearly half the little kingdom lies
below the water level-either sea
level in the west or the levels of the
Mas and Rhine in the interior =.
The land, some of the most fertile
in Europe, has been wrested from
the waters acre by acre over more
than a thousand years.
Several times in their checkered
, history the Dutch have cut their
dykes and flooded their country aSI
a defense against an invader. The
last time was during the Napoleonic
wars. At the start of the present
struggle there were elaborate plans
to dynamite the dykes again in case
OF German invasion-but this
actually happened so quickly there
was no time to carry out the pro-
gram. 1t requires weeks, at the
best, to flood the country. The
popular idea that as soon as thel
dykes are cut the land is instantly
Hooded is quite wrong, Netherlands
officials here explain.
Would Let In Salt Water.
For generations, Dutch militarvI
leaders have considered flooding
as strategic move against Ger
many. They have not thought
OF it in the event of an invasion
from the west because it would mean
essentially committing national sui
clde. Now, it is gathered by reports
reaching here every day from Hol-
land, this is precisely what the Ger
mans have in mind in case the
Netherlands coast is selected forI
opening part of the second front |
10 counter an invasion from thel
east, dykes holding in the river
would be broken. The land would
be submerged under fresh water
When the tide of war was passed
1t could be reclaimed again, at how
ever great expense. This might not
be so heavy with modern engineer
ing methods.
But against an invasion from the
west dykes holding back sea water
would be broken The salt would
soak into the soil and nothing could
be grown for years.
Dykes Reported Cut.
About 10 per cent of the country
could be flooded by cutting the river
dykes. Nearly 40 per cent, or 3,O00,-
000 acres would be affected by cut
tlng the ocean dykes. There have
oeen numerous reports that the
Germans actually have done this. |
That large areas already are under
water.
More than a year ago strip 10
miles deep along the Dutch coast
was evacuated of its inhabitants.
lhls was for the purpose of building
the so-called atlantic wall"
The dykes will not be broken--or,
what is more important, the cleo
trically powered pumping stations
deStroyed-except as a last resort
Dutch officials here believe.
ROmmel Inspects Project.
In any event, there is every indi-
cation that the Germans are ready
TO carry the plan into effect. The
preparations have been inspected
within the past four days by Mar
| Shal Erwin Rommel, who, according
TO word received here, has expressed
himself as we'll satisfied.
All the inhabitants have been re-
moved from the South Holland and
iceland Islands lying south of Rot
terdam. These are rich and iso-
lated agricultural islands which, but
Tor the artificial barriers against
sea water, would be brackish
sWampS. The farmers there lead
extremely independent lives. They
have many customs peculiar to
themselves and are noted for their
religious zeal
A few days ago German soldiers
appeared and gave everybody notice
to leave for the mainland, taking
only what they could carry with
them, without any delay. There
were dramatic scenes as the farm
families resisted with guns and
pitchforks and the preachers, called
down the vengeance of the Almighty
on the invaders. This did no good.
All have now been cleared out, ex-
cept men over l6 who have been
held to help prepare for the pro-
jected flooding. The Germans are
waiting word from the high COM
mand.
Two "POlderS" Flooded.
A second area evacuated in the
past few days is much of the prov
lnce Of West Friesland northeast of
Amsterdam, but only one of two
'polderS" actually have been flooded
probably as an experiment. Another
considerable area evacuated is in
the extreme southwest Of the main
land running over the Belgian
frontier. The inhabitants have been
moved from three-quarter circle |
about 25 miles wide around Amster-
dam. This includes long strip be-
hind the sand dunes north of the
city.
Perhaps the most important of all |
the recently evacuated areas, how
ever, is strip 2 or miles wide ex-
tending northeaStWard from Rotter-
dam to the Zuider Zee, cutting off
the western half Of the country
This, Dutch officials here say, prob
ably is considered as the main sec
ond defense line behind the At
lantic Wall.
Also evacuated, but protected with
heavy Notifications, is the area
around the great bridge across the
Hollands Deep south of Rotterdam.
! AdVlceS just received by the Dutch
government show that especially
strong defenses are being erected
around HARLEM, Utrecht and Breda
the latter city, in Brabant, being
the present German military head
quarters. Big bitches which can be
filled quickly with water have been
dug around the towns.
Special attention has been paid to
the defense Of Rotterdam, for which
the Germans apparently plan to
make hard fight before turning to
the sea as an ally.
Much of this work, communicates
from the Dutch underground regu-