The St. Johns herald., 1895-10-24
ANOTHER GIBRALTAR.
Englancs TTev Stronghold cn the
 Ss-ait5 Of Fuca.
Great Secrecy Esaia-ainod During the coastrucfion Of tue Fortress = De ec-iptioa of the Works
 and Arnia 1nent.

and Armament.
 Within a year it is confidently ex- peetcd the Straits Of Fuca will echo the music of the shore guns at EsqTimalt, Great Britain's new and most modern line Of defenses at the southern ez- tremi.v of Vancouver island. Never ha. 2 Eitary undertaking in time Of It.oto-nlesb peace been prosecuted with ss-icser secrecy than the construction of these Ordinations. and all tAat the Vsc5orisas know all about the marvel ors system of protection at theif doors might bchold in . few brief para graphs that Iile nov forts are designed for stem work, nos for display: tha0 their ar1amaent will be the most modern and best in the world; that submarine mines and torpedocs are 9 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-orde-ed 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 sgiant elevators hydraulically operated; the guns visible and exposed only il 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 cers 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 worllnen, 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.
 It is not thought likely that any large additions will be made to the perina- 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 its shadow over the land the British Columbia Bat talion of Garrison artillery will be found quite competent to defend their homes and Eagland's honor. In view of such al emergency the hcadquartsr militia companies have during the last year CT so been put through a course of special training by instructions from the Rogs1 laarAse artillery, practical artillery work being given them, and them pctfletic enthzsias.l being aa- s.'sa by 9 cash bonus of fifty aoilars @ eaeh man attending the gsln- riery classes. Besides this a handsome new eciii hnA has been provided for them; they have been supplied with every military luxury and necessity, and have generally been dealt with on scale of hberality that would simply astound any volunteer corps ia eastern Canada.
 All of which points to but one con- clusion.
 Just now the special traininc of the battalion is suspended. The ner who have taken the prescribed course have been examined and inspected and cer- tifcated. Each and all arc, however, required to take 8 further course with in the fortifcations as soon as the heavy ordnance shall have arrived a2d been placed in position.
 And as the artillery must be ''provea' at least once in every three months, ac- cording to regulations, citlzens of Puget Sound need not be alarmed if they hear heavy eannonading during the present summer. It viii not be the thunder of a hostile fleet; simply the barking of the watchdogs on guard at her Britannic mcjestys Pacific head quarters.
 Prer,arfar- fov f.ooss Tri-,oo