Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 223, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1914 — LIBAU, NPORTANTRUSSIAN NAVALBASE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LIBAU, NPORTANTRUSSIAN NAVALBASE

IF a bombardment of Libau by a German warship should prove effective, then Russia would certaintainly be wounded In one of her most important naval strategic positions, remarks a writer in the New York Sun. To Russia Libau is a port of very great cbncern and one. that normally in time of war should be of prime importance to her, especially in the winter time.

’ St. Petersburg is substantially ice bound for months each year. This is the reason for Libau’s military significance. This Baltic city lies far enough south of the capital to be substantially an open port the year round, and by a moderate use of-an ice breaker continuous intercourse by sea is maintained the winter through by vessels running to Germany, England and the United States. In fact, Libau is the home port for the Russian volunteer fleet, whose ships enter New York. Originally Libau offered poor inducements for either a naval base .or a commercial port, the town lying upon a stretch of low sandy coast directly exposed to the sweep of the Baltic gales, while the water off shore deepened so gradually that its shallowness induced a very nasty sort of sea. However, it was a matter of necessity and money was n,ot allowed to count. Accordingly, the Russian authorities adopted heroic measures and set about the building of an artificial harbor. With characteristic extravagance the work was started and carried through in the face of many difficulties. Two Spacious Harbors.

Today Libau boasts two harbors, one military, the other commercial, and both lie behind a great breakwater more than four miles long, pierced by two narrow and heavily guarded entrances. Once inside of that shelter a very large fleet can anchor securely nd matter how hard it may blow in the Baltic without. It was there that Admiral Rozhdestvensky assembled his ships before setting

out for the far East and the fateful battle of Tsushima. Breakwaters are commonly built of big masses of piled rock capped with a topping of cut stone. But ordinary practice was out of the question at Libau, and the engineers were soon face to face with a serious difficulty. Rocks were scarce in that sandy region, and even small stones could be gathered only by dint of a good deal of searching. To overcome the dearth of desirable material of nature’s making and to avoid the impracticable' alternative of bringing rock overland by very inadequate rail facilities, it was decided to fashion monster ;?blocks of concrete, weighing 30 tons apiece, out of the readily available sand. In . this way millions of dollars were spent in the producing of artificial stone, and these enormous units were dumped upon the bed of the Baltic until they reached above the water’s surface. The general appearance of this breakwater is suggestive of the careless work of a crowd of ypung Titans, but the great playblocks serve their purpose well and are manifestly durable. With .this sea wall done the next problem was to construct a navy yard back from the coastline and fairly well hidden from the sight of a foe advancing from the sea. Here, too, the Russian engineers boldly faced the existing handicaps. By cutting a broad and deep chanhel through a neck of land that intervened between the Baltic and a good sized lake a mile or more inland the makings of a naval station were available. Laving reached the lake, the next thing waif to dredge out its shallow depths until water enough was obtained for the largest of the czar's battleships. Around this lagoon the navy yard was set, two dry docks were dug and machine Bhops and marine railways constructed for the purpose of meeting all the exigencies of wartime service. In addition to this, bombproofs and heavy batteries were placed along the

flanking coast, and so hidden that they could not be seen from the sea. For some years Libau has been the prime Baltic center for Russia’s submarine flotillas and an instructional base for these craft. Indeed, the admiralty has been engaged for some years in working out a general system of submarine defense for the Baltic, and any grave damage to the port will seriously affect her strategic program for those waters. 3 Seaport’s Importance to Russia. Of course, the authorities have purposely kept as secret as possible the nature of the military work at Libau and foreigners would ordinarily have but little chance to see anything at all. But Americans have helped, and so have British engineers,' in the strengthening of this artificial base, and from these something has been learned of the nature of the preparations at that port. Although bombarded by the Germans, it is doubtful if any material damage has been done the navy yard, and the destruction of the town, unlike the hidden naval basin and docks, would not hamper the port in a military sense. It must not be forgotten that Libau is naturally an important railway terminal, with lines running both back toward the Russian-German frontier and up along the coast to the other Baltic ports, with a northern terminal at St. Petersburg. For purposes of supply it is, therefore, of the greatest concern to Russia to hold the harbor of Libau open to her shipping and to other craft, bringing her contraband. The German attack was logical, tut it is yet to be learned whether or not the results were conclusive. If so, the kaiser has scored heavily against the czar should the present struggle run on into the winter months.

At this particular season Libau is one of popular resorts, and is very much patronized by the people living inland in the Baltic provinces. It boasts a number of attractons of

the regulation seashore sort and its beaches, because of their gradual dip, are admirably suited for surf bathing. Some of the practices there may Jar upon our notions. In Libau a bathing Buit is not only a„ novelty but a rarity. The custom is to go into the water without any more impediments than an occasional covering for the head. Men and women bathe at different sections of the beach separated by a neutral strip.

VIEW OF HARBOR. LIBAU