Notices on the outlasting war sites

Transcriber’s Note:
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.
Illustrated by a map scale 1/100.000, four sketches and thirteen photographs made by the Army Photographic Service.
1923
Imprimerie du Ministère de la Défense Nationale Bruxelles.
H. M. THE KING ALBERT OF BELGIUM.
The figures of the list are connected with those printed on the 1/100.000 map included with this booklet, as well as with those of the following notices.
NOTICES
THE OUTLASTING WAR SITES
Before going into the description of the war sites along the Belgian sea-coast, it is important to cast a general glance on the defences established there by the Germans.
Admiral Schröder was given the task of the organization of the sea-front. To do so he had at his disposal: the German Marine Army Corps, a coast artillery altogether powerful in number as well as in the caliber of the guns, a flotilla of patrolers, torpedo-boats, destroyers, submarines and a few squadrons of aeroplanes and seaplanes.
In a few months time Belgian coast, thus strongly and thoroughly organized was to be looked upon as a real up to date fortress. The power of the defences was mainly concentrated round Zeebrugge and Ostend,—the two german war outlets of the naval basis Bruges,—also between Lombartzijde and Middelkerke,—where both territorial and seafronts were hinged,—and finally at Knocke and East of that locality, for the protection of the river Schelde’s estuary.