Kiel, in spite of the growing importance of Wilhelmshaven, still retains its position as Germany’s premier “Reichskriegshafen,” or Imperial War Port. Its superb harbour, and the international regatta, known as the “Kieler Woche,” which is held each June, have made Kiel one of the best known ports of Europe. This year’s regatta, it will be remembered, was rendered memorable by the presence of the British Second Battle Squadron and some of our light cruisers. The Imperial Dockyard at Kiel is said to be one of the best-equipped establishments of its kind in the world.
It has two large building slips, on one of which the Dreadnought battleship “Kaiser” was constructed, and there are other slips for the building of smaller vessels. Of the six graving docks, two are large enough for Dreadnoughts. There is also a mammoth floating dock capable of raising vessels up to 39,500 tons, and five other pontoon docks for ships of smaller dimensions. Upwards of 10,500 officials and hands are employed at the yard, which specialises in repair and refitting work, though a good deal of new construction is also undertaken.
Kiel is the official residence of Prince Henry of Prussia, the Kaiser’s brother, who is Inspector-General of the Fleet. Some four miles down the harbour is Holtenau and the locks of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. Kiel is very strongly defended against both land and seaward attack. The harbour entrance is guarded by the batteries of Friedrichsort on the west, and those of Laboe and Möltenort on the east. At Friedrichsort the fairway is less than 1,000 yards wide, so that ships attempting to force an entrance would have to run the gauntlet of the heavy fortress guns at almost point-blank range. Friedrichsort is the home of the State torpedo factory, which supplies practically the entire navy with these weapons.
In normal times the Second and Third Battle Squadrons are based in Kiel, which is also the base for the Baltic Reserve Squadron, the First Torpedo Division, and the submarine flotillas. Besides the State yard, there is the immense shipbuilding and engineering establishment known as the Germania Yard, owned by Krupp, and the Howaldt Yard, both of which construct warships of the largest size. Hence the building and repairing facilities at Kiel are very extensive, and they pass automatically under State control in wartime. Kiel itself is a large and thriving city, with a population of 180,000. Its growth dates from 1866, when it was wrested from Denmark by Prussia, with the whole of the Schleswig-Holstein province.
HELIGOLAND.
Heligoland is the most remarkable of Germany’s naval strongholds. This island, it will be remembered, was ceded to Germany by us in 1890. At that date the sea had made such inroads on the soft cliffs that the complete disappearance of Heligoland at no very distant date was freely predicted.
With characteristic thoroughness the Germans took measures to preserve their new acquisition. Immensely strong breakwaters and sea-walls were built all round the coast, but violent gales demolished much of the work, which had to be replaced at great expense, and it is only in recent years that the ravages of the sea have been completely checked.
Simultaneously with this work a good deal of land reclamation went on, with the result that the area of the island has been greatly increased.
A large harbour for torpedo-boats and submarines has been enclosed by two long moles. Inside there is a miniature dockyard, with repair shops, magazines, stores, &c. Outside this harbour there is a safe anchorage for warships of great size. It is estimated that from beginning to end the naval works at Heligoland have cost Germany something like £10,000,000 sterling.
Fortifications of remarkable strength have been erected. These consist chiefly of heavy guns, mounted in steel turrets, well concealed from the view of an enemy at sea, and so placed that every approach to the island is swept by their fire. As these guns are mounted on the plateau they have a high command, and attacking ships would have to encounter a plunging fire.