The daring raids by Royal Ale Force machines Jon Heligland throw into prominence the sand of Heligoland, one of German's forte bares which sseumed: much more. importance Inthe ays prior tothe last world war than in tis Stated shoot 30 riles fromthe mainland [Germany vand "atmo!" cquidston from tne fSorders of Toland snd Denmark, Metgoland Trmerly belonged to Beitaln ued wis Cectonted with" Germany forthe island of Zansibar' on the cast const of Atrice, Helioland has always coen 3 dubious srateical factor, When it was under British control it possessed a garson pice, coasiguards and lighthouseman, with nothing larger in artillery than' a: few salute uns."fn such clove' proximity tothe German east, it could: never represent any" effective fBaisn base any' tore than "Gersany maintain such base' in the Thames, estuary. Tne exchange way a, bargain though those ipcorte'belicting in Gibvattars and. wowevial crmiteitions, without considering the strategical weakness, "exaggerated its value, Afler it) came into 'German. possession, work extension of wharves and the creation of 9. base for submarines and other' small craft, while fortiNations were added. In 1014 it was fully fortified and on the outbreak of war its population of 2,000 was evacuated to the mainland—the Heligolanders being. given tone hour, in which they could pack the hand faye. Actually, the island escaped severe bombardment anda few islanders returned to their homes. 'Under treaty obligations Germany was compelled to dismantle the fortifications and restore the island to its former status as a free port, It took three years to raze these fortifieation' and after nine years of peace, Chancellor Hiller ordered extensive refortification and the island one again became a naval base but on much more powerful lines than ever before, Details of Heligoland are lacking becatise of the extreme restrictions imposed on foreign visitors [but one observer recently declared. that, although the big guns projecting at all points, indicate the extent of the mechanical effort introduced, the island, with its soft sandstone aliffs, In'spite of protective bastions and underpinning, continues to crumble into the sea in a similar manner to some parts of the English coast. A seventeenth century map of Heligoland showed an island of 1,000 acres, but the present area is Tess than 200 acres, A Memory Eighty years ago today the man, who was to beat the German Navy in the last war, and to bbe made Earl Jellicoe for his services, was born. It is as well that his name should be remembered in times, such as these for he and hhis redoubtable aide, who became Earl Beatty, Jdemonstrated a quarter of century ago that the Jold Nelson spirit stil. prevailed in the British Navy, just as its oticers are proving the same act today. The Battle of Jutland will go down history as at one and the same time. the most decisive and most undecisive naval. battle history, for while It had the effect of confine Ing the German fleet to its own waters, irom which It did not emerge until on its way to surrender at Scapa Flow, it did not result in His destruction in battle. There are. still many Jof the opinion that to be completely decisive the German leet should have been almost completely destroyed in that action. Indeed It might have been with just a little more Tuck than Earl Sellicoe received, but the reduction of the German navy to a state of complete idleness, and the complete unrestricted command of the seas which the Jutland victory gave Great Britain [must stand at vindication for the contention that from the point of view of the naval campaign encounter was completely decisive, That the tradition when San ellice parsonlied still pervades the British Navy ig evidenced by the manner in which the crew of the s, Rawalpindi had no hesitation in engaging the overpowering jedds which she encountered in the North Sea. 'There was no thought of flecing.—it would not have been possible,—but though resistance meant the deaths of a large number of men, the affeers Jand crew fought their ship to the' bitter end, fand did so well that it was merely a matter of bad luck that assistance did not arrive in time which might have meant the end of the foe vessels. 'The German fect has not yet seen fit to come out alter the British fleet, "It would be heartily' welcomed if it did, for no etter opportunity would be offered of refuting the often claimed contention of the Germans that the British are becoming effete. The successors of Earl Jellicoe would seize upon the opportunity of proving It to. them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.