If you wish to see the position of Holland look at the map of Europe as
it was before August 4, 1914, and the map of Europe as it is to-day.
In 1914 Holland lay overshadowed by the vast upper jaw-bone of a
monster--Prussia--a jaw-bone reaching from the Dollart to
Aix-la-Chapelle.
In August and September, 1914, Prussia, by the seizure of Belgium,
developed a lower jaw-bone reaching from Aix-la-Chapelle to Cassandria
on the West Schelde. To-day Holland lies gripped between these two
formidable mandibles that are ready and waiting to close and crush her.
For years and years Prussia has been waiting to devour Holland. Why? For
the simple reason that Holland is rich in the one essential thing that
Prussia lacks--coast-line.
Look again at the map and see how Holland and Belgium together
absolutely wall Prussia in from the sea. Belgium has been taken on by
Prussia; if we do not tear that lower jaw from Prussia, Holland will be
lost, and the sea-power of England threatened with destruction.
The ruffian with the automatic pistol waiting behind the tree requires
the life as well as the basket of the little figure advancing toward
him.
He has been in ambush for forty years.