The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-30
THE STRONGEST FORTRESS.
Gibraltar, With Gun Chambers Cut in
Living Rock.
The Death of the Sultan of Morocco
Brings Gibraltar Again Into the
View ofthe World-England Prepar-
ing for Whatever NAV OCCUR.

ing Tor Whatever May Occur.
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean
The sudden death Of Mulev Hassan and
the consequent happenings in Morocco
have been the cause of more political
complications than the lamented Muley
ever dreamed of. There has not been
such universal, chaotic mix-upiin Eu-
ropean affairs before in a generation.
Long since it was pointed out that peril
to the peace of Europe might come from
Morocco as easily as from any other
point Spain and France are equally
jealous of any foreign authority but their
own in this section. England has long
been suspected of designs on Tangler, and
has evinced a strong disposition to have
a finger in this pie if there
are any spoils to be had. II, does not re-
qulre any microscope to see Of what enor-
nous strategical advantage would be the
possession Of the Moorish harbor The
power that secures this would hold the
Key to the situation. Gibraltar, the pride
OF England, would then have an addi-
tlonal Importance.
Great Britain is extremely sensitive on
anything that even in a remote wav
draws the attention TO this greatest of
modern fortresses. There has been a
wild rumor circulated in London that a
high official had suggested that Gibraltar
De offered to Spain as huge bride for a
slice of Moorish or Spanish territory and
haroor. This yarn, unreasonable as it
was, called out the most frantic protests
from certain 1iugoites, who are always
ready for excitement.
GIBRALTAR PREPARES FOR BUSINESS.
The truth of the matter is simply that
In view of the uneasy feeling in the
Morocco imbrogio England has dis
patched several of its large ironclads to
Gibraltar. There is, according to tele-
graphic dispatches, an unusual amount of
activity in the fortress. The various bat
teries are being overhauled and examined.
Guns of the heaviest caliber and improved
pattern have been ordered to be sent from
England to replace older ones, and it
really looks as if they meant to be ready
for any emergency.
OF all the modern fortresses in the
world there is scarcely one so interesting
as that of Gibraltar, which at this mo-
ment happens to be of peculiar interest
on account of its important role in the
event of war involving Morocco.
There is not more picturesque spot
in Europe nor a more delightful
one to recuperate in, and it is here
after hard time in the field 1t is a
place of rest and some regiments are left
here to recruit for years. In that case
the officers are joined by their families,
and the home life in Gibraltar is one of
the happy features which has proved a
pleasant surprise to more than one
traveller. The military element domi-
mates the whole life of the place. With
5000 or 5000 troops-for Gibraltar is
baf haV-
are alive with redcoats and bluecoats
the latter being the uniform of the ar
tillery.
THE STRONGEST FORTRESS OF EUROPE.
Everything goes by military rule. The
hours OF the day are announced by gun
fire. The morning gun gives the exact
minute at which the soldiers are 10 turn
out Of their beds, and the last evening
gun the minute at which they are to turn
in. 1t is necessary for the outsider to re-
gard these signals, as the gates of
the place are opened and shut at the fir
ing OF the guns.
If Gibraltar were merely rock in the
ocean its solitary grandeur would induce
many a sight-seer to inspect it's rugged
sides. But as it is at the same time the
strongest fortress in the world the in
terest of the greater number Of visitors is
to see its defeuses. The natural strength
of its position has been multiplied by all
the resources of modern warfare, in the
admiration of which one is led for a
moment to forget the greatness thrust
upon it by nature, " butonly for moment.
Standing on the top of the rock, which is
!, 400 feet high, and looking down the cliff
where the waves are dashing at is feet,
fill person with an awe that is indie
scribable, and one is loath to resume his
tour of inspection.
The rock is nearly three miles long and
from one-half to three-quarters of mile
broad. On the eastern side the cliff is
so tremendous that there is no possibility
of scaling it. therefore the only approach
must be by land from the north or from
the sea on the western side. AS the lat
ter lies along the bay, and is at the low
est level, it is the most exposed to attack.
The town lies here, and could easily be
approached by an enemy if it were not
for its artificial defenses. These consist
mainly of what is called the line wall,
tremendous mass of masonry two miles
long, relieved here and there by project
ing bastions, with guns turned right and
left so as to sweep the face of the wall.
The line defended is more than two miles
long.
Within the line wall, Immediately
fronting the bay, are the classmates and
barracks for the artillery that are to
serve the guns. The classmates are de-
signed to be absolutely bomb-proof The
walls are so thick as to resist the impact
of snot weighing hundreds of pounds.
The enormous arches overhead are made
to withstand the weight and the explosion
of the heaviest shells. This line wall is
armed with guns of the largest caliber
Some are mounted on the parapet above,
but the greater part are in the classmates
below so as to be near the level of the sea
and thus strike ships in the most vital
part.
Of course every one is anxious to see
the :wo big guns, each of which weighs
100 tons. But they are guarded with great
care from the too close inspection of
strangers They are so enormous that it
is impossible to describe them so as to
convey an idea of their immense proper
tons The shot has to be lifted to the
mouth of these guns by machinery. and
man could easily crawl into the bore. II
was feared that the explosion would be
something terrible, but the sound was
nothing in proportion to the size. Every
one was surprised and many dis
appointed. Some of the 6S-pound-