Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-21

as military and naval power and Leld M in
correspondingly small esteem, We managed TO
get along frst-ratc, and VIXEN later we parted
with linn, as well as with another shilling, il
WAS evident that lie Lad better opinion of us.
Once or twice, however, ! rather tried bis spirit
He was pointing out some Of the large guns.
which really are large and fine ones. too, and he
remarked in tone of much superiority that we
lad nothing like those in America and would
not know what to do with them il we had them
When told him that we we're turning out even
larger and finer guns at the ordnance shops in
Washington, he said nothing, but he looked at
me In a way that eaid palmer than words that
he would rather would tell that TO the marines
than to well-informed member of her majesty
army.
THE PRIDE OF THE ENGLISH.
The English may well be proud Of Gibraltar,
for it would be difficult to conceive of fortress
as impregnabie as this tunneied and armed
mountain. Wherever improvements can be
made they have been made, apparently regard
less of expense. II fence or building is needed
1t is built of stone, and in such handsome and
substantial manner that it is evidently intended
to stand for centuries In looking over all this
evidence Of lavish expenditure Of money was
fOrcibly reminded, by contrast. Of recent con-
versation with a prominent army official at the
War Department at Washington. 1t was just
after the big March wind storm in Kansas
The roof of the frame cavalry barracks at one
of the military posts had been carried away by
the wind. The general said that this was likely
to cause considerable inconvenience to the men,
as the necessary repairs would probably cost a
considerable sum, and the funds at the disposal
of the War Department for such emergencies
were limited in the extreme. England expends
upon Gibraltar in time of peace more than a
million dollars. exclusive of material.
THE WONDERFUL GALLERIES
of Gibraltar are but series Of tunnels that,
starting several hundred feet above the sea, go
winding up at an angle Of about thirty degrees.
They are from fifteen to forty feet within the
exterior slopes, and every little way an opening
is cut through and big gun is mounted and
pointed out over the bay or toward the Medi-
terranesn. Quoting from one of the authOri-
ties on Gibraltar: 1.-THE engineering of these
tunneled galleries, the distribution of the guns,
the lighting up. the deposits for shot and pow
der are admirable, though exceeding. perhaps,
all the strict requirements; it is lie luxe ct la
coquetterie de rimprenable.'
The suggestion has been made at various
times that England should voluntarily with
draw from Gibraltar and surrender her hold
ings there. Mr.. Bright was the first to speak
in favor OF this in parliament, giving as a rea-
son the enormity of the expense incurred in
the possession. MIR. Gladstone, believe, also
favors this surrender, but there is little chance
of the proposition even being seriously con-
sidered Gibraltar is thorn in the side Of
every Spaniard and q source of the greatest
qualification and pride to Englishmen. who re-
gard the rock as one of the brightest jewels in
the queens diadem. V.K.