The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-08-22
ANOTHER GIBRALTAR.
Enrlauds New Stronghold on the
Straits OF Fuca.
Great secrecy Maintained During the
Construction of the Fortress - De-
scription of the Works
and Armament.

WITHIN year III Is cOnuQently eX-
pected the Straits of Fuca will echo the
music of the shore guns at Esquimalt,
Great Britain's new and most modern
line of defenses at the southern ex-
tremity of Vancouver island. Never
has military undertaking in time of
profoundest peace been prosecuted with
stricter secrecy than the construction
of these Notifications, and all that the
Victorians know all about the marvel
GUS system of protection at their doors
might be told in few brief paragraphs
that the new forts are designed for
stern work, not for display; that their
armament will be the most modern and
best in the world; that submarine
mines and torpedoes are prominent
feature; that the "forts" are located
somewhere in the bowels of the earth
between Point Macauley and Esqui-
malt naval yard; that the magazines
are stocked for siege If necessary, and
that the work of construction is now
nearly accomplished, that of equipment
has begun.
At present the subaqueous mines are
being placed in position at the entrance
to Esquimalt harbor and in the Royal
roads, and the point is beginning to
again assume more of the appearance
of well-ordered military barracks and
less that of great mining camp.
Readers of the Seattle Post-Intelli-
gencer were, when the work COM
menced, given an idea of the plan of
fortifcation-a system of great tunnels
and ordnance rising therefrom on
giant elevators ALPHABETICALLY operated;
the guns visible and exposed only
in the brief moment required to sight
and fire them. This general plan has
been faithfully carried out, and the
topography of the point, as viewed
from the water, has in consequence
changed considerably. The hill has
disappeared, and hundreds of tons Of
earth and rock from the excavations
have filled in the miniature valley.
How the forts look from the shore none
can say save the uncommunicative Off
GERS in charge, for in the last two years
the scene of operations has night and
day been surrounded by line of senti.
nels, to pass whom nothing less than an
order from the imperial war Office was
required. The worlimen, too, have
been changed about, so that it would
be impossible for any of them, even
should he feel so inclined to disclose
the secrets of the stronghold. And not
even the highest officers of the resident
militia have as yet been admitted with
in the sacred precincts bounded by that
faithful sentry line.
Now that the greater part of the
work of construction is over it is prob
able that less secrecy will be exercised,
but at no time can the general public
hope to gain admittance to the forts as
they do to the warships. They are not
established for the qualification OF
sightseers.
1t is not thought likely that any large
additions will be made to the perlna.
nent forces of Royal Marine artillery
and Royal engineers under Col. Raw
storne and Maj, Muirhead respectively.
The force of two or three hundred at
present in possession of the barracks
will be quite sufficient to keep the
place in order in peaceful days, and
should war at any time cast it's shadow
over the land the British Columbia Bat
TALON of Garrison artillery will be
found quite competent to defend their
homes and England's honor. In view
of such an emergency the headquarter
militia companies have during the last
year or so been put through course of
special training by instructions from
the Royal Marine artillery, practical
work being given them, and
their patriotic enthusiasm being
by a cash bonus of fifty
dollars to each man attending the gun
merry classes. Besides this handsome
new drill hall has been provided for
them; they have been supplied with
every military luxury and necessity,
and have generally been dealt with on
a scale of liberality that would simply
astound any volunteer corps in eastern
Canada.
All of which points to but one con-
clusion.
Just now the special training of the
battalion is suspended. The men who
have taken the prescribed course have
been examined and inspected and GER
titicated. Each and all are, however,
required to take further course with
in the Notifications as soon as the heavy
ordnance shall have arrived and been
placed in position.
And as the artillery must be proved"
at least once in every three months, ac-
cording to regulations, citizens of
Puget Sound need not be alarmed if
they hear heavy cannonading during
the present summer. 1t will not be
the thunder of a hostile fleet; simply
the barking of the watchdogs on guard
at her Britannia majesty's Pacific head
quarters.
Preparing for Good Time.
Already French architects are send