The St. Johns herald., 1898-11-12
ANOTHER GIBRALTAR.
GnglSnc's New Stronghold on the
 Straits of Fuca.
Great Secrecy Maintained During the Construction of the Fortress - De soription of the Works
 and Armament.

and Armament.
 Within a year it is confidently ex- ! pectcd 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 trecity of Vancouver island. Never has military undertaking in time o1 profoundest peace been prosecuted witE . str.--eE secrecy t-au the COnStrucUiCs ] of these fCrtincaGCus. and all that tht
 Victorians know all about the marvel ous system of protection at their doors
 might be told in Q 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 a 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 a great mining camp.
 Readers of the Seattle Post-Intelli- gencer were, when the work com menced, given an idea of the plan of Notifications system of great tunnels and ordnance rising therefrom on giant elevators hydraulically 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, cers in charge, for in the last two years the scene of operations has night and day been surrounded by a line of senti. nels, to pass whom nothing less than an order from the imperial war office was required. The workmen, 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 -,f4 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 perlna- nent forces of Royal Marine artillery and Royal engineers under Col. Raw storne and Mai. 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 tune cast it's shadow over the land the British Columbia Bat talion of Garrison artillery will be found quite competent to defend theii homes and England's honor. In view of such an emergency the headquartGr militia companies have during the last year or so been put through a course of special training by instructions from the Royal Marine artillery, practical artillery work being given them, and their patriotic enthusiasm being strengthened by cash bonus of fifty dollars to each man attending the gum nery classes. Besides this a 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 whc have taken the prescribed course bavs been examined and inspected and csr ti6cated. Each and all are, however required to take furtter eoa-se H1-. .L4 ,44U 4,4 .-U4--, -- ---- = - - ordnance shall have arrived and been placed in position.
 And as he artillery must be proved" st least once in every three months, ao- cording to regulations, citizens of Puget Sound need not be alarmed if they hear heavy cannonading during the present summer. It will not be the thunder of a hostile feet. simply the barking of the watchdogs on guard at her Britannic majesty's Pacific head eRsgtsrs.