The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-02-13
THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR,
THE WORLDS MOST FORMIDABLE
FORTRESS DESCRIBED.
The Rock and the Town Upon It
Defcnces of Gibraltar-A -Four
Ncnrs' Siere.

Years Siege.
The Rev. Henry M. Fields work,
"Gibraltar, " contains the following vivid
description of the Notifications of the
strongest fortress in the world 1.-THE
Rock is nearly three miles long, with a
breadth of half to three-quarters of n
mile, so that the whole circuit is about
seven miles. But not all this requires to
bc defended, for on the eastern side the
cliff is so tremendous that there is no
possibility of scaling it. 1t is fearful to
stand on the brow and look down to
where the waves are dashing more than
thousand feet below. The only ap-
proach must be by land from the north,
or from the sea on the western side. AS
the latter lies along the bay, and is at the
lowest level, it is the most exposed to
attack. Here lies the town, which
could easily be approached by an enemy
if il were not for its artificial defenses.
These consist mainly OF what is
called the Line-Wan, tremendous
mass of masonry two miles long, re-
lieved here and there by projecting
bastions, with guns turned right and left
50 as to sweep the face of the wall if an
enemy were to attempt to carry it by
storm. Indeed, the line defended is
more than two miles long, if we follow
it in its ins and outs; where the New
Mole reaches out its long arm into the
bay, with line of guns on either side;
followed by re.entering curve round
Rosia Bay, the little basin whose waters
are so deep and still that it is quiet
haven for unlading ships, but where an
enemy would find himself in the centre
Of rfr n Era xrhiph vnthtnrr
could live; and if we include the bat
teries still further southwark, that are
carried beyond Europa Point, until the
last gun is planted under the eastern
clii, which is itself defense of nature
that needs no help from man.
"Within the Line Wall, Immediately
fronting the bay, are the casemates and
barracks for the artillery regiments that
are to serve the guns. The casematcs
are designed to be absolutely bomb
proof the walls being of such thickness
as to resist the impact of shot weighing
hundreds of pounds, while the enormous
arches overhead are made to withstand
the weight and the explosion of the
heaviest shells"
But these are not the whole of Gibral-
tar's defenses. There are batteries in
the rear Of the town as well as in front
that can be fired over the tops of the
houses, so that if an enemy were to effect
a landing he would have to fight his
way at every step. As one climbs the
rock it fairly bristles with guns. DR..
Field says that he could not turn to the
right or left without seeing these open
mouthed monsters and looking into
their murderous throats. Everywhere il
is nothing but guns, guns, guns, over
head and underfoot, pointing at you
from every direction. The unique
feature of Gibraltar is the rock galleries,
which were begun more than one hun
dred years ago, during the great siege
which lasted nearly four years, when the
inhabitants had no rest day or night.
1t is twomile walk through them, and
an o ticer in charge is always willing to
detail a gunner to conduct visitors
through the galleries.
The writer calls attention to the fact
that the majority of people always think
of Gibraltar as fortress and forget
that it is anything else. But it is an
old Spanish town, quaint and pictur.
esque, with 20, 900 inhabitants, in which
the Spanish element gives distinct fla
vor to the place. The mingling of tht
Spanish with the English is one of the
most striking features of the very mis-
celaneous and picturesque population
As in most garrison towns, the military
is first and foremost, and there are al
ways five or six thousand troops in Glib
raltar. 1t is perhaps the largest garri
son in the British dominion. AImos
every hour company passes up thu
street, tramping to the monotonous
music of the fife and drum.
Besides the garrison and the Englisl
and Spanish residents of Gibraltar tht
town has floating population as motley
in race and color as can be found in any
city nArthe Mediterranean. 1t is grea
S-Tesort of political refugees who seel
protection under the English flag. A
it is SO close to Spain, it is the first re
fuge of Spanish conspirators, who, fail
ing in their attempts at re oluticn, fle
across the lines. OF the society il
Gibraltar DIR. Field says it would be
mistake to suppose that the population
OF Gibraltar is confined TO men. Tn
home instincts, he remarks, are stron!
in English breasts, and wherever the
go they carry their household gods witt
them. 1t is this feature of garriso
life, its union of fair women an,
brave men, which gives such
charm to the society of Gibraltar
Although Gibraltar is the creates
fortress in the world, if it were onl
that, it would not have half the interes
which it now has. The supreme inter
est of the Rock is IN the record of Ger
turies which is craven on its rugge
front. For nearly eight hundred yeal
it was the prize of war between tn
Spaniard and the Moor, and its legend
are all of battle and of blood Ten time
it was besieged, and passed back an
forth from conqueror TO conqueror, th
, .vTess Teplacing the Crescent, and th
N-' 'e Cross. Ten times was tn
lnvass, andst and won. When at last, i
,ino f. ., the Spaniards drove the Moors ou
9of Spain, they remained masters of Gil
Taltar, and held it with undisputed swa
for little more than hundred year.
They might have held it still but for
surprise, hardly worthy to be called
siege, for the place was taken by cou
de main that is one of the strangest il
cidents of history. 1t was the war
the Spanish succession, waged by ha
Europe TO determine which of two il
competents should occupy the throne
spain. he English sent a squadron int
the Mediterranean under Sir Geore
Rookie, who, after cruising about an
accomplishing little, bethought himsel