St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-24
KEY TO MEDITERRANEAN.
The Fortress of Gibraltar and
It's Value to England.

Gibraltar proper virtually occupies
q peninsula which guards the passage
between the Atlantic ocean and the
Mediterranean, says London Temple
Bar 1t is favorite military and ma
val station wherein officers of both
services can resign for the season
their professional cares for lighter
Joys. It's works of Defense its bomb
proof batteries and lilliput fortresses
heavily armed, more resemble the bull
Warks of nature than those by the
hand of man. They are well grouped
together even if in a small area, be-
cause Gibraltar in no case exceeds
three-quarters of a mile in breadth.
The rock rises abruptly from the low,
sandy. peninsula-li1e isthmus to about
1,400 feet above the level of the sea.
From it's summit view is obtained of
unique sublimity. 1t can only be ap-
preciated when seen. The mighty Med
iterranean sea stretches away in the
BACKGROUND, alike shadoWy and grand
in scenic beauty, steamers and ship
ping ever traversing its waters. In an
other direction the Atlantic ocean and
expanded waters of the Bay of Biscay,
washing the shores of Spain, are prom
inent features.
Gibraltar was known to the Greeks
and Romans as Calpe or 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. It's strategical value
to England is of paramount impor-
lance being really the key of the posi-
ton along which the merchants of the
world pass upon the seas on their law
full Vocations. Ii, 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 vast
plain of azure-like glass. At other
times dark clouds chase each other
over it's surface, peals of thunder and
forked lightning are heard and seen,
and then the waves become lurid-like
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 it holds in its bosom, for
the sea is the largest of all cemeteries,
and it's slumberless sleep without mon
uments. 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 their graves
are unmarked.
1t is the general and popular belief
that Gibraltar is all impregnable fort
ress, but grave doubts have arisen
during the last twenty-five years as TO
whether the rock is really the i'm
penetrable quadrilateral it is generally
supposed to be. All political parties
of the state appear 10 be agreed that
if there are any defects they should be
rectifed, hence the action of the gov
eminent in sending out the Duke of
Cambridge to inspect and report upon
the necessary requirements, the abso-
lutte necessary strength and detailed
matter.