The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-18

situated on the river Guadalavfar. about
two miles from the sea. and has a popu-
lation OF 10000 The harbor Is formed
BY a semicircular curve in the beach one
half mile in diameter. with two moles
extending seaward--one $500, the other
$500 feet long. An inner port is formed
by two arms extending from the moles
across the curve incosing an area of
10000 square yards. Valencia is de-
Tended by two batteries situated on the
shores at each side OF the Grao or port.
The old city is surrounded by circular
wall built in 1856, which is 30 feet high
and 10 feet thick, containing eight gates.
It's 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. quay planted with shade trees
extends along the river. which is crossed
by five bridges. Among the public
buildings mre 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 G temple OF
Diana and a Moorish mosque.
In ancient times Valencia was a town
of the Edetani Then 1t became Ro-
man colony, in which ID. Junius Brutus
settled the soldiers OF viriathus. about
1SS b. c. Destroyed by Pompey. 1t was
soon restored. The Moors took IL from
the Goths in 713. but II was captured
from them i'm 1894 after siege OF 20
months. In 1101 they retook It and
were again forced to capitulate in 1888.
In the war OF the succession il 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. 1908. when.
besieged 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. II was later surrendered to Suchet
by the Spanish general Blake, the con-
querors holding II till June. 1913.
There are other towns and cities in
the vicinity of the coast, on the Medl-
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 devastating war was In prog
ress. 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 the
battle where Sir John Moore fell mortal-
1y wounded and whose death was i'm.
mortalized in the stirring poem by Rev.
Charles Wolfe, Not drum waa heard.
not a funeral note" etc. 1t Is also the
port from which the invincible armada
sailed, and there exist remnants OF It's
once famous fortress. The harbor OF
Ferrol, one of the best in Europe, IL
entered by a 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 and
dockyards, founded by Charles III. COW
er nearly "a acres and comprise many
magnificent docks and storehouses. II
has a naval barracks, is the seat Of the
Naval academy. contains prison for
galley slaves and has hospitals and In !
stitutions similar to those possessed by
other towns in Spain. The population
is $4,000. There are factories OF consid-
cradle size, and the city has an export
Several OF the Spanish ships have lately
been repaired there, and the Numancia
is still In the docks.
Santander is city Of 10000 people.
with old and new quarters and public
buildings like other places already de-
scribed. The harbor is easy OF access,
and the Notifications are slight. This
town was sacked by the French in 1903.
stormed by the Spaniards later. retaken
by the French in 1909 and evacuated BY
them in 1912.
What remains Of the Spanish navy on
the home coast-enough vessels to form
a squadron--is in a state OF inefficency.
Camara left behind the Vitoria,
Cardenal Cisneros, Alfonso XIII, Prin-
cesa de Asturias, Numancia and Le
Panto. The best of these is the Cisne-
ros, an ar1nored cruiser carrying two
9.4 inch. ten 5.5 inch and 2.7 guns, ~
small cannon and eight torpedo tubes.
Her whereabouts for a long time was a
puzzle TO us. but IL is now known that
she is being repaired at Cartagena. The
vitoria was ordered TO be transformed
from training ship into a protected
,ruiser last year, but has not yet been
'ully armed, though II Is intended she
should carry eight Q inch. two inchs
)ne rs inch. one 3.5 inch, two 81 inch
md eight machine guns. The Alfonso
XIII, which was recently damaged by
fire. and lie Panto are of the same
lype and armament, carrying four 18
nch and six al inch guns. IL rapid frers
Ind FIVE torpedo tubes. The Princesa De
Asturias is OF the same type as the
Vitoria. The Numancia. which the
Spaniards call broadside ship. Is prac-
Iically worthless. She is an old pro-
tected cruiser. but experts claim that
5pain's protected vessels are virtually
Unprotected. Aside from the Cisneross
one OF our first class battieships Is sue
)erior TO the entire collection
Commodore Watson has . fine record.
When q young officer, with the essist>
lnce Of Richard Knowles. seaman. Ne
ashed Admiral Farragut TO the riGgin8
" the Hartford In Mobile harboF IA
August, 1854 He has with him several
of the most celebrated fighters OF the
iavy. and II any Spanish admirala
Iteam forth from Spain looking tor
rouble they viii ind all they want ana
more besides when Wafso9s big gums
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