Cuxhaven, moreover, is the principal base of the German air fleet. An immense shed, 590-ft. long, 98-ft. high, and capable of sheltering two of the largest dirigibles, is approaching completion. This structure is of the revolving type, thus permitting airships to dock or emerge without being exposed to the wind. It rests in an excavation. When the shed is lowered the roof is on a level with the surrounding country, and by this means the location of the shed is hidden from hostile aircraft.
Near at hand there are permanent hangars for a number of seaplanes, with workshops for repairing and fitting aircraft of every description.
The German authorities are credited with the intention of gradually developing Cuxhaven into a first-class naval base, in order to relieve the congestion at Wilhelmshaven.
BRUNSBÜTTEL.
Brunsbüttel is the western terminus of the Baltic-North Sea canal. It is situated about ten miles up the River Elbe, on the Schleswig-Holstein shore. Some batteries are believed to exist at this point, armed with guns powerful enough to repel torpedo craft, but the real defences of the canal locks are the forts at Cuxhaven, at the mouth of the river.
The widening of the canal, which is now practically completed, necessitated the construction of new locks on a gigantic scale at each end. Those at Brunsbüttel were completed early this year, in advance of the locks at the Kiel end.
Brunsbüttel has a harbour nearly 1,700-ft. long and 680-ft. wide. Large supplies of coal and oil are kept here, and there is a well-equipped coaling plant which enables vessels to coal with great rapidity. The canal locks are of such massive construction that it is doubtful whether they could be seriously damaged by torpedo attack.
Moltke. Photo: Central News.
MOLTKE CLASS.