The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-26
sIsges Against Gibraltar.

1t was not destined that England
should hold her new acquisition without
giving abundant evidence that the form
liable rock. Of which Spain has never
ceased to resent the loss, had passed into
the possession Of a power fully able to
guard it by land and by sea Gibraltar
was vigorously attacked in 1927 by the
Spaniards, under the Count de Las Tor
res, but the assistants failed to tear down
the Union Jack from its pride of place.
By far the most memorable Siege, how
ever, TO which it has been exposed was
commenced in 1879, when Great Britain
was engaged in a mighty struggle with
] her rebellious North American colonies,
resisted by the full power Of France.
The opportunity was seized by Spain to
Join the coalition AMI she directed her
whole strength to recovering possession
Of her lost fortress, which was defended
by a small and isolated garrison under
General Elliott. The siege lasted for
three years, seven months and twelve
days, and a French fleet under the Due
de Crillion, gave strenuous aid to the
Spanish besiegers. A tremendous array
Of line of battle ships and of gun and
mortar boats poured their iron hail
ceaselessly into the devoted stronghold,
with such tenacity by General Elliott
that when peace was concluded, in 1883,
the satisfaction of the invading more
than equaled that of the beleagued
force. The grateful thanks of parlia-
ment were awarded to the gallant de-
tenders, and the well merited title of
Lord Eeathfield was conferred or Gen
eral Elliott. 1t is certain that during
this protracted encounter many French
and Spanish vessels were sunk by red
shot fred from the g%arrison's batteries,
and that the submerged guns, concern
ing the callber Of which We have only
a Divers guess to guide US, may have
been under water for more than a cen
tury. Experience teaches us that rust
acts as an incrustation or protection to
metal sunk in salt water, and preserves
it, as has been repeatedly proved. from
d~isintegration and decay. There are,
however, many other battles which
have been fought at a more recent date
along that exposed aud much frequented
cost, to Il or other of which we may
be indebted for the interesting memen-
toes just discovered by a diver. Thus,
n 1885,, Admiral Sir John Jervjs totally
defeated a Spanish fleet of twenty-seven
ships off Cape st. Vincent, sinking
several of the enemy's men of war.
Eight years later came that great and
crowning victory yer the French and
Spanish in Trafalgar Bay, just outside
the Straits of Gibraltar, which con-
ferred upon this country the undisputed
empire Of the seas. In that memorial
engagement some of the enemy's finest
vessels were sent to the bottom and
nothing is more probable than that the
strong current running inward through
the Straits of Gibraltar may have car.
ried these sunken guns to the spot
where they have just been found.
Everything connected with the last
sea-fight upon a grand scale IN which
England took part possesses an undying
interest for the compatriots of Nelson
and Colllngwood, who hail with enthu-
siasm the announcement that those
trophies rescued from the deep bear
testimony to the dauntless courage and
we'll directed fire of the English sailors
who won Trafalgar.