The evening times., 1898-07-25
THE D[F[NsEs OF SPAIN
There Are Many Weak Ports on
the North Coast.
MOUNTING ANCIENT ORDNANCE
Great Reliance IL Placed ON the
sulma rine Mines and TorpedoeS
which Are Being Hurriediy In
stalled-San Sebastian and FcrrOl
Protected by strong Forts.

Madrid. Spain, July 25.-The fortifca-
tions of the north and west coasts Oh
Spain In the main are ancient and inem-
cient. But in many of the ports mines
and torpedoes have been planted recent
ly, which are supposed to provide thor
ough defense against the dreaded Amer
ican naval raid.
At the mouth of the Bidassoa River,
at the French Pyrenean frontier. there
is a strong new fort on the crest of the
hill behind Fuenterrabia whose guns COM
mand the mouth of the river and seawards
could give a nasty salute.
The inland bay at Passages. very in-
portant outlet for the wine and ore trade
to France and Belgium, lies next to the
west 1t is not fortified. though on or
near its banks are important wine depots
railway stations. and mills situated at
Passages, Reuteria and Hezo.
Next is San Sebastian, the Spanish New-
port, a fashionable summer resort for
both Spaniards and foreigners during the
bull fighting season in August. 1t con-
tains the summer palace of the Queen.
San Sebastian. has the strongest forth
fications in the north of Spain-the Cita-
del San Maurus and Choritoquita. on in
accessible heights some four miles out
side San Sebastian, whose guns sweep
Passages Bay and the Urunnes Valley on
both sides of San Sebastian City and bay.
The fortifications in San Sebastian itself.
including the old Monte Urgul Citadel
and the Damas Battery at the left en-
trance to the bay, are old-fashioned,
worthless defenses, now undergoing some
improvement.
The Basque coast from San Sebastian
to the Bilbao River is dotted with little
ports. villages. and beaches perfectly de-
fenseless. Bilbao River has some fine
stone breakwaters. but bad harbor bar
at the mouth of the Hervion River and
a narrow channel upstream for vessels
over 1900 tons.
The approaches to the mouth of the
river will soon be in a strong condition
to repel sea attacks. Batteries are nearly
complete on Mount Serantes. above Por-
tugalite and Santurce, which will cross
fire with the other works near Algeria.
a headland on the left of the mouth of
the Hervion. Artillery and engineers are
actively pushing these works. which will
have Krupp and Ordonez guns.
The Bilboa garrison is i.0So strong.
trade to England (3OO0 600 tons a year..
and to Germany. Belgium and France.
Further along the coast westward are
old forts at Carbro Urdiales. Larido and
Santona. a splendid bay, where there is
an old citadel and convic. station, and
where new works are in progress.
The next place on the coast is the port
of Santander. also with a magnificent
bay and anchorage; a city shorn of its
trade with the Antilles. San ander will
be well defended. If the works now in
progress can be completed in time. and
the engineers say they will. An artil-
lery regiment, 1000 strong, has arrived
with forty heavy guns ready TO be
mounted.
Both headlands are to have batteries
crossing fire. and submarine defenses
are being laid to protect this important
harbor. where the mail steamers from
Cuba go in and out, and where the
French and English transatlantic and
Pacific liners stop both ways. The
wheat and ore trade of Santander is i'm
portant
The weakness of Santander lies in its
position on a prOmontory between the
bay and the sea beaches of Sandinero
where landing could be made and the
defenses taken in the rear. The garri-
son has about 25o0 men. Santander.
like Biiboa- has enthusiastically assisted
the government. with money defenses.
and is forming local volunteer corps
drilled. clothed and equipped at the ex-
pense of the local corporations
further west are a number of small
ports. tshing villages and estuaries of
rivers that have. like every river in Spain.
from Bidassoa to Cape FInisterre, shift
Ing sand bars and shallow waters at the
mouth. making navigation dangerous
without pilots. Charts and ordinary in
dicauons would not serve much lust now
as no lighthouse shows a light at night.
the buoys have been removed and ey-
erything has been taken away that could
assist the foe. The European rations
nave been warned not to approach the
coasts or enter the principal ports with
out pilots.
West of Santander the FIRST important
port Is Gi1on, poorly fortified. though the
center of much trade and frequentei in
summer by many people from the intari-
or of SPAIN
Half dozen other Asturian Province
ports have tumble-down defenses. adorn-
ed with venerable guns of the DAYS of the
struggle against Napoleon at the begin
ming Of the nineteenth century but The
local press and the Madrid papers talk
big Of the contemplated resistance 10 the
At the extreme northwest is the p-oy-
ince OF Galicia. with rugged. Indicated,
picturesque rocks dangerous coasts of
evil fame for mariners or all countries.
because there, even more than Oh The
coasts of Biscay and Asturias. storms
are possible. fogs thick. squalls sudden.
and the northeast and northwest winds
equally treacherous.
The coast of Galicia around Finisterre
has been very metropolis for vessels Of
an nations. Every fishing village has
numerous CROSSES and monuments raised
20 the memory of foreigners washed
ashore dead or dying on this tnhospit-
able coast in the dreaded nights when
even the hardy. daring seafaring popu,a-
tion of such regions never dream of res
cue.
In Galicia there are many bays and
estuaries where the English and French
squadrons spend pleasant time in their
annual cruises. their officers angling and
boating up the rios OF Galicia or the
fine bays of Vigo. Arosa and Villagaria.
1t Is the boast of Spain just now that AL
these peaceful resorts of trade and holi-
day seekers will soon be bristaing with
fortifications, guns. troops and torpe-
does. but a fortnight's notice in a land
where so many things are wont to be put
on to the morrow seems a short space ,
for preparing such a warm reception for
the Yankee Armada"
Corunna on the western coast. an i'm i