The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-07-21

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q navy for herseaf- and that both Aus
tris and Germany have big squadrons /
which are not 20 be deSpised in the /
great inland sea. and II viii readily be /
seen why England Invariably makes /
a point Of deyoting more attention To
the organization and maintenance OF
her Mediterranean neet than Of ali her !
other naval forces put together The /
ships assigned to the Mediterranean |
squadron are always the most power |
fuI and up-to-date OF the British navy. |
Their crews are in every sense OF the |
word picked men. while only the most
able OF officers are chosen for the com
mznd. Indeed, il Is no exaggeration
10 describe England's feet in the Med
iterranean as the cream of her navy;
and for a sailor or officer TO have be-
longed thereto. indicates that he is
rated high in his particular branch of
the service.
England appreciates. as do the for
eign powers. that the Mediterranean
constitutes the most vulnerable por-
ton of her line Of communication with
India. Australia and the far Orient;
and to such an extent is this recog-
nized that naval and military strate-
gists. as well as statesmen of high
and low degree. are convinced that the
Mediterranean is destined TO be the
theater OF the next European war in
which England becomes involved. No
hostile power would dream Of engag-
ing England's channel fleets close to
her great arsenals and naval bases.
until il has disposed of her Mediter-
ranean squadron: and as il seems TO
be generally taken for granted that IN
the next great European conflict no
time viii be wasted in ultimatums and
In other preliminaries. but that each
belligerent will endeavor by striking
the first blow TO obtain that most i'm
portant OF all things in war, namely.
the Initial advantage. England's Medi.
terranean feet is kept all the year
round in perfect fighting trim, with its
full complement OF men. guns and am
munition. ready for hostilities at al
most an hours notice. The British ad
miralty is resolved that its Mediter-
ranean fleet shall not be caught nap
ping. and that inasmuch as the next
war in which England becomes engag-
ed with any European power will be
inaugurated without any proclamation
or declaration thereof. the first honors
shall fall to John Bull.
This will enable the readers of the
Tribune to form some idea of the i'm
portanee of Gibraltar to England. and
to appreciate why there is less chance
OF its being surrendered or exchanged
than ever before. 1t has been argued
that with the introduction of steam
navigation and of ordnance of i'm
mense range, the value of Gibraltar
Tor strategic purposes has declined
But few moments of reflection will
suffice TO dispel this notion; for. if
| nowadays the use of steam enables
shipping passing through the straits
to avoid that terribly strong current
which used to sweep sailing vessels
under the very muZzles OF the old
time guns. the new ordnance with
which the rock" is now armed is of
such immense range that il Is literally
able TO sweep the entire straits. and
thus to command the entrance to the
Mediterranean TO far greater degree
than ever before.
| Moreover. as fortress Gibraltar is
virtually impregnable The embra-
sures for the great guns are cut in the
living rock, against which the heaviest
projectiles would prove of no avail.
Few people indeed have an idea of the
marvellous strength of the place. or
what has been done for il in a defens-
I've way by past masters in the science
OF military engineering The defenses
are seldom. If ever. shown to strang-
ers. The usual descriptions of them
as bristling with ornaments. are pure
~ imaginary. Il may be sufficient.
however. TO state that guns and bat
teries. for the most part masked. COM
mand not only the straits. but likewise
the bay to the rear of the rock and
the heights above Algeciras: that is to
say. beyond the Spanish lines. Three
years ago-it was at the time of the
American war with Spain-the latter
threw up some earth works above
Algeciras. and was about to mount
artillery there when the Madrid gov
eminent received very curt and per-
emptory intimation from the English
ambassador. Sir Henry Drummond
Wolf, that any continuance of the
work would be construed as an un-
friendly act Spain had no alterna.
tive but to abandon them, and there
is no doubt that were she to resume
them the English would once more
give utterance TO the yelled threat
communicated by Sir Henry. and il
that proved of no avail might invoke
the assistance of their guns on the
Rock. which commands the Spanish
heights. 10 prevent the continuance of
the works Indeed. there is but little
danger 10 be spprehended from that
source. and all those who have been
stationed at the Rock" and who are
in any way acquainted with the ma.
tnre OF its defenses have with one
accord ridiculed the fears voiced in
Parliament by Mr.. Bowles as to the
danger which Spain constituted 10
this English stronghold.
There Is but one thing that could
really impair the value to England
Of Gibraltar as the stronghold com.
handing the entrance OF the Mediter
ranean- Il Is IL some great European
power were TO secure possession OF
the second Pillar Of Hercules. on the
northernmost point OF Africa. Just op
posite TO Gibraltar. and were to CON
vert il into stronghold resembling
the latter This African Pillar OF Her.
eules. however. forms part Of the
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