The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-23
better than Gibraltar for protection to h

better than Gibraltar for a protection to her
Eastern trade.
All the ships for India and Egypt and a
large percentage for Australia pass through the
Mediterranean Sea. Gibraltar, situated Mt the
entrance, is a four days. sail from London.
Malta is three days farther SAIL and Egypt
still farther by three days. So from London to
the far East. England possesses 4 series Of ports
separated by com paratively short distances. e
Gibraltar would in time Of trouble be able to
command the trade of all nations having ports
in the Mediterranean or doing a carrying trade
in it. With the improved guns no vessel could
probably pass safely were shots directed toward
it.
The harbor of Gibraltar is several miles long
and broad, and we'll protected from the sea. 1t
can float All immense number of boats and
many Of the largest draft. At present this
harbOr is great coaling station for merchant
steamers as well as war boats. Immense quaint
ties of coal are kept On hand and constantly
replenished.
To have an entire command of the straits
England should possess the promontory of
Centa, opposite on the African coast. SPAIN
however, possesses this which serves as par
tal compensation for the loss Of Gibraltar. II
is occupied by the Spanish forces and is strongly
fortified, but is used chiefly as military prison.
It's strength will not in any degree compare
with that Of Gibraltar, yet it affords an excel
lent harbor
On the whole. England was wise in her
choice. Gibraltar-the very name has become
synonymous for something unconquerable. We
are told of armies that they stood like the rock
of Gibraltar. Any great fortress is likened to
| Gibraltar
At all times a greater or less number of war
vessels are kept in the harbor. 1t serves as a
| coaling station for the squadrons of the Medi-
| terranean and eastern Atlantic.
1t seems to me, however, that its greatest
| Importance is in the way of trade. Gibraltar
is well situated as distributing point for Spain
| and for the northern part of Africa Its prox
| unity as fortress serves to protect English
merchants in Morocco, and among the more
| turbulent tribes of the interior, while as a
| distributing point it gives England great ad-
vantage over other nations situated farther
away and without any Mediterranean possess
| sons. This part do not think has been fully
taken hold of yet by English merchants. Trade
with these North African races is, however,
only in its infancy yet. They have hardly be.
| gun to appreciate the advantages of civilian
ton. 1t would be good thing # some coloniz-
ing nation would take these haf-eivilzed peo-
| pie under their protection.
The climate Of Gibraltar has proven very
| fatal to English soldiers. A residence of n few
| years there has undermined the health of many
| q i-nglIsil req coal. 4 visited some OF
the barracks. They are not furnished with
| any Injuries, and seemed rather bare; yet they
may compare very favorably with those in
many other places. A soldiers bed is not
strewn with roses, as rule, and the path to
| glory is generally hard climb.
| The level neck Of land between the rock and
| mainland IS termed the neutral ground. On
one side is line of English sentries and on
the other, less than half mile away, is line
| of Spanish sentries. The feeling between the
two is not Of the best and strict regulations are
| observed in regard to visits between the two.
The great trouble is Gibraltar is free port
| Nothing is taxed excepting spirits and wines
| 80 there is great temptation to smuggle
things across the Spanish frontier. Tobacco
especially is the favorite commodity. Anyone
watching can see scores of people, especially
| women, engaged in this Illicit occupation.
At night tobacco is struggled by means of
dogs which are trained to avoid the sentries
| This fact has proven fatal to some English
sentries. The Spanish soldiers are not the best
of marksmen, or are very careless. In aiming
at dog they have sometimes hit soldier of
Britain.
Thus it is that the path Of honor has in a few
cases led but TO the grave.
N q WJNTEp