We should not only have to venture on attacks in far-distant waters, but must be strong enough to protect efficiently the threatened flank of our attacking fleet.
After all, it is improbable that the English would have recourse to a mere blockade.

The reasons which would prompt them to a rapid decision of the war have been already explained.

It was shown that, in the event of their fighting in alliance with France, they would probably attempt to land troops in order to support their fleet from the land side.

They could not obtain a decisive result unless they attempted to capture our naval bases--Wilhelmshaven, Heligoland, the mouth of the Elbe, and Kiel--and to annihilate our fleet in its attempt to protect these places, and thus render it impossible for us to continue the war by sea.
It is equally certain that our land forces would actively operate against the English attempts at landing, and that they would afford extraordinarily important assistance to the defence of the coast, by protecting it against attacks from the rear, and by keeping open the communications with the hinterland.

The success of the English attack will much depend on the strength and armament of the coast fortifications.