The Irish standard., 1895-02-02
KEY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The Fortress of Gibraltar and Its value
Tn ENGLAND.


Gibraltar proper virtually occupies q
peninsula which guards the passage be-
tween the Atlantic ocean and the
Mediterranean, says London Temple
bar: 1t is a favorite military and naval
station, wherein officers of both services
can resign for the season their profess
sional cares for lighter joys. Its works
of defenses it's bomb-proof batteries
and lilliput fortresses heavily armed,
more resemble the bulwarks of nature
than those by the hand of man. They
are well grouped together, even in a
small area, because Gibraltar in no case
exceeds three-quarters Of a mile in
breadth.
The rock rises abruptly from the low,
sandy, peninsula-like isthmus to about
fourteen hundred feet above the level
of the sea. From it's summit view is
obtained Of unique sublimity. It can
only be appreciated when seen. The
mighty Mediterranean sea stretches
away in the background, alike shadowy
and grand in scenic beauty, steamers
and shipping ever traversing it's waters.
LII duOCACI uuoCGAOlA VIC ACAou olC OSCdA
and expanded waters of the bay Of
Biscay, washing the shores of Spain,
are prominent features.
Gibraltar was known to the Greeks
and Romans as Calpe of Abyla. The
strip Of land near Ceuta was named
.Abyla. For many centuries they
formed the renowned Pillars of Hercu-
les, the then limit of ocean enterprise
and commerce. Its strategical value to
England is of paramount Importance,
being really the key of the position
along which the merchants of the
world pass upon the seas on their law
full vocations If, unfortunately, this
country were engaged in war, with
France and Russia combined against
her, we might find ourselves in "Queer
street" without Gibraltar. OF course,
the peninsula is much exposed to the
destructive energies of the ocean
waves. Sometimes the sea is calm and
almost motionless, a picture of a vast
plain of azure-like glass. At other
times dark clouds chase each other over
its surface, peals of thunder and forked
lightning are heard and seen, and then
the waves become lurid-lilze in their
aspect and break with roar on the
peninsula. The oceans surfy, slow
deep, mellow voice, full of awe and
mystery, breaks night and day against
the rocks, moaning, as it were, over the
dead that it holds in it's bosom, for the
sea is the largest of all cemeteries, and
it's slumberers sleep without monu-
ments. In other graveyards distinc-
ton is shown between the grave of
the peer and that of the peasant, but
in the sea and ocean, closely encircling
our precious possession, Gibraltar, the
same waves roll over all, and the same
requiem is sung by the minstrelsy of
the ocean in their honor. The same
storm beats, and the same sun shines
over their remains, but the graves
are unmarked.
1t is the general and popular belief
that Gibraltar is an impregnable for
tress, but grave doubts have arisen dur
ing the last twenty-five years as to
whether ''the rock" is really the impen-
etrable quadrilateral it is generally sup
posed to be. All political parties of the
state appear to be agreed that if there
are any defects they should be rectifed,
hence the action of the government in
sending out the duke of Cambridge TO
inspect and rep ort upon the necessary
requirements, the absolute necessary
terial and detail matter.