Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-02-19
IMPREGNAeLE FOR AGES.
EnGland's UnbrOken Hold Upon q
Rock of Gibraltar.

England's UnbrOken Hold Upon the
Rock of Gibraltar.
Gibraltar Is almost an island Of rock,
its only connection with the main land
of Spain being : narrow causeway
known as the neutral ground" This
| is patroled up to a certain point by
English seDtries. looking neat, trim and
bnsiness-like In their short, red coats
and white helmets. Just beyond the
line of the sentry boxes the Spanish
territory begins, and another relay Of
guards, clothed in the yellow and red
Of Aragon and CASTLE, stand ready to
see that the realm Of his majesty, AL
fonso Kill, is not to be encroached
upon and that no one crosses the bor-
der without first passing through the
little Spanish custom house. For near
ly 200 years, night and day, these two
sets Of sentinels have watched and
challenged and glared at each other,
and seem likely to continue doing SO
for a good many years to come.
The fortress stands at the end Of a
rocky promontory, extending about
three miles into the sea and about half
mile in breadth. The north end,
which overlooks Spain, springs up
nearly perpendicular to height Of 1 800
feet The east and south sides are
steep and rugged and extremely diff
ficult Of access. even II they were not
fortified. 30 that 1t is only on the west
side, fronting the bay. where the rock
declines to the sea and the town is
effuo rod that u ron1d Ia q ITO or od wlfh
the faintest hope Of success. Here.
however, the strength of the fortifica-
ton is such that the place may be said
to be impregnable. The lower batteries
are all casemated and marked by
bushes, while higher up vast galleries
have been e1cavated In the solid rock
and mounted with heavy modern artil-
lery. The damage which might ensue
from the explosion Of shells II guarded
against by open traverses, and q net
work Of passages gives communication
between the different batteries and pro-
tects the gunners from the enemy's
fire. Looked at from below there Is
nothing save an occasional portfolio to
indicate the deadly character of this
huge material monolith, but If 1t could
be looked down on from above, it
would be found to present from sea to
summit a perfect labyrinth Of stone
tunnels, bristling with cannon and
stored with chained lightning sufficient
to shake the earth to It's very center.
Gibraltar has been besieged no less
than thirteen times. Its possession
rested alternately with the Moors and
the Spaniards until 17O4, when it was
attacked during the war Of the Spanish
succession by the English and Dutch
fleets and surrendered after a short
resistance. The Spaniards, during the
,ine years following, vainly endeavOred
to recover 1t, but in 1713 its possession
was secured to the English by the
peace Of Utrecht. The last and most
memorable siege was In 1873, when
Gen. George Elliott and his gallant
band Of 5000 half-starved men success
fully held the place for four years
against the combined fleets Of Spain
and France. That was q close shave for
the English, but they have provided
against a recurrence in such a manner
that 1t seems certain that nothing short
Of an earthquake will ever dislodge
them from the rock. 1t lie said that the
fortress 10 kept victualed for n siege
Of seven years. Aerial railways. tele-
phones. tslegraphs, electric search
lights, and . perfect code Of signals
have united the garrison practically in-
to fighting nashipA The blue waters
Of the bay az6 aid to be treachen Is
with sunken torpedoes. and even III.
elements are guarded against by mean
Of position or rangefinders, whereby
the guns above, although enveloped in
clouds Of mists, can be electrically
pointed and discharged from half q
mile to q mile below and the enemy
made to think that great Jove Is hnrl
Ing clouds at him, fl om high heaven Ii
self.