Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21


situated on the river Guadalaviar, about
two miles from the sea- and has popu-
lation of 120 900. The harbor Is formed
by semicircular curve in the beach one
half mile in diameter, with two moles
extending seaward-one 800, the other
$500 feet long. An inner port is formed
by two arms extending from the moles
across the curve Enclosing An area OF
10000 square yErds. Valencia Is de-
Tended by two batteries situated on the
shores Mt each side of the Grao, or port.
| The old city is surrounded by a circular
wall, built in 1856, which Is 30 feet high
and 10 feet thick, containing eight gates
| Its streets are narrow and tortuous and
the houses high and gloomy. but the
suburbs are handsomely laid out and
well built. The citadel was erected by
Charles V in defense against Barbaros-
sa A quay planted with shade trees
extends along the river. which Is crossed
by five bridges. Among the public
buildings are the episcopal palace, GUS
tom house, Chamber Of Commerce,
School OF Commerce, theaters, Academy
of Fine Arts. hospitals. asylums, many
churches and suppressed converts. the
most remarkable Of which is st. Domi-
MICS. built on the site of n temple Of
Diana and Moorish mosque.
In ancient times Valencia was a town
of the Edetani. Then II became Ro-
man colony, in which d. Junius Brutus
settled the soldiers OF Viriathus, about
1873 B. c. Destroyed by Pompey, It was
soon restored. The Moors took ii from
the Goths in 713, but It was captured
from them in 1904 after n siege Of 20
months. In 1l0l they retook II and
were again forced to capitulate In 1898.
In the war of the succession It was
opposed to the French and in conse-
quence lost its privileges in the reign OF
| Philip V. The most notable event in
its history occurred in June, 1903. when.
besleged by the French under General
Money and abandoned by its mobiles
and generals, the people under Rico, a
monk, made a gallant defense and COM
PEELED the enemy to retire with great
loss 1t was later surrendered to Suche,
by the Spanish general Blake. the con-
querors holding it till June, 1873
There are other towns and cities In
the vicinity of the coast, on the Medi-
terranean. like Malaga. Almeria, ALI
cante and Tarragona. that offer induce
ments to the attack of Commodore Wat
son. but they would not be molested
unless a devastating war was in prog
ress, a condition not yet contemplated
by our government.
On the bay Of Biscay are Ferrol, Co.
runa and Santander and on the Allan.
tic coast Pontevedra. but of these the
first two named are the most important
Ferrol is one of the chief naval arsenals
and Coruna is noted as the scene OF thu
battle where Sir John Moore fell mortal
ly wounded and whose death was i'm
mortalized in the stirring poem by Rev
Charles Wolfe, Not drum was heard
not funeral note" etc. 1t Is also thu
port from which the invincible armada
sailed, and there exist remnants of III
once famous fortress The harbor o
Ferrol, one of the best in Europe, Il
entered by narrow strait and is de
Tended by the castles Of San Felipe anC
Palma.
The town on the northern shore Il
strongly fortified. Its vast arsenal anC
dockyards. founded by Charles ILL., GOV
er nearly "a acres and comprise man,
magnificent docks and storehouses. l
has a naval barracks. Is the seat of tn
Naval academy. contains a prison TO
galley slaves and has hospitals and in
stitutions similar to those possessed b!
other towns in Spain. The population
Is $4,000. There are factories of consid
cradle size and the city has an expor
trade in corn, brandy, vinegar and fish
Several of the Spanish ships have latel.
been repaired there, and the Numancit
Is still in the docks.
Santander is city of 10000 people
with old and new quarters and publi
buildings like other places already de
scribed The harbor is easy Of access
and the Notifications are slight. Thi
town was sacked by the French in 1908
stormed by the Spaniards later, retakel
by the French in 1909 and evacuated b.
, them in 1912.
What remains OF the Spanish navy OF
! the home coast-enough vessels to form
4 squadron-is in state of inefiiciency
, Admiral Camara left behind the Vitoria
Cardinal Cisneros, Alfonso XIII. Prin
cesa de Asturas, Numanc!a and Ii
! Panic. The best of these is the Cisne
, ros, an armored cruiser carrying two
| "a inch, ten SIS inch and 81 guns, i
small cannon and eight torpedo tubes
I Her whereabouts for long time was
puzzle to us, but ii Is now known tina
she is being repaired at Cartagena. TIT
Vitoria was ordered to be transformed
from a training ship into protected
cruiser last year, but has not yet beer
should carry eight 9 inch, two inch
one rs inch. one 3.6 inch, two 81 incl
and eight machine guns. The Alfonso
XIII, which was recently damaged b!
: fire, and lie Panic are OF the sam
type and armament, carrying four 81
, inch and six ~ inch guns, 10 rapid firer
and five torpedo tubes The Princesa d.
Asturias is OF the same type as th
Vitoria The Numancia. which tn
l Spanards call broadsde ship, Is prac
tically worthless. She is an old pro
tected cruiser, but experts claim tina
| SPANS protected vessels are virtual!
unprotected. Aside from the Cisneros
one OF our first class battleships Is su
, perior to the entire collection.
? Commodore Watson has fine record
| When a young officer. with the assist
: ance OF Richard Knowles seaman, h
dashed Admiral Farragut to the rigging
) of the Hartford in Mobile harbor II
! August. 1864. He has with him severa
OF the most celebrated fighters OF IN
navy, and II any Spanish admiral
steam forth from Spain looking TO
l trouble they will fnd all they want ant
more besides when Watson's big gun
' begin laundering Remember tn
|, Malne!"
:, ALBERT p. SOUTHWICK.