The local Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 25 January 1882 published an extract of an article dealing with so-called fish torpedo in a German naval magazine. The author of this article claimed that Denmark was by far most superior in the torpedo branch. The Danish navy possessed the best torpedo boats and the best equipment to guide the torpedos towards the enemy. Although the Danish navy was insignificant she was able to close the entrance to the East Sea totally by using fish torpedos. Denmark also possessed islands close to the German naval harbour Kiel with other words a continuous threat for the German navy. The author pointed also the importance of Helgoland as a location for a torpedo station to close the Elbe.
