The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-03-18
ABOUT GIBRALTAR.
DENIED THAT 1T IS AN IMpREG-
NAELE FORTRESS.
French Critics Declare the World at
Large WIN No Longer Regard oibral-
tar as the Stronghold the English
Claim 1t to Be.

French technical journals like the
Revue d'Armee ct De Marine and 9TH
ers are expressing the views that Glib
raltar is not such formidable defense
Of British interests on the shortest
road to India as is usually believed.
The Revue d'Armee ct de Marine has
just given detailed history % the
works undertaken by Great Britain at
Gibraltar since 1885. The Tour de
Monde and other journals, also, are
having much to say on the subject
Their criticisms are based in part upon
the pamphlet which Mr.. Gibson Bowles
printed a while ago under the title,
/ Gibraltar, a National Danger in
which he maintains that the prevail
ing faith in the impregnability Of the
famous rock is a delusion. The French
writer's declare that there is nothing
new in this view. They quote older
British authorities in support Of this
idea, among them Gen. Codrington,
formerly governor of Gibraltar, who
maintained that the place was moth
ing but a searecrow to frighten people
it. The French journals say that the
works begun by the British govern
ment in 1895 are to be completed in
1905 and 1906. They consist of large
torpedo station, a great dry dock and
two new piers, all strongly fortified.
The critics declare that the particular
ly weak point in the enterprise is that
q he RI h. I'd
the west side Of Gibraltar, and now,
when nearly 5000 600 have been ex-
pended, experts come forward and de-
clare that it is most unwise to build
the Improvements on the west side OF
Gibraltar. They say the works viii
be exposed there to a ruinous fire from
Spanish batteries on the opposite side
Of Algeciras bay, about four miles dis
tant, should Spain take it into her
head TO erect batteries on her side of
the coast. The fact is that the Spanish
have already studied the question OF
batteries and other military works near
Gibraltar. A part of their army is
now kept in the neighborhood and
series Of Notifications has been reared
all around the north and west side of
Gibraltar, The works extend from the
Sierra Carbonara, which is just north
Of the neutral strip separating the
rock from the Spanish territory north
of it, all along the shore of the bay to
the west, terminating at Carnero
Point, which ends the shore line on
the west side of the bay. The author
of this Spanish military idea is Major
Garcia Roure, who estimates that 20
pieces of large ealiber placed at equal
intervals along one-third of this line
might at one and the same time direct
their projectiles on Gibraltar from
distance Of 1900 to 5000 meters, and
| could easily reduce the works now
building and also the much Wanted
fortress. Mr.. Bowles obtained the
plans of these projected Spanish works
which he published to the world with
the warning that no military authority
could advise the carrying out of the
undertaking already far advanced on
the west side of the fortress. In his
opinion the British should be content
to lose the money they have put into
these uncompleted structures and
should begin the work all over again
on the east side of Gibraltar. There
would certainly be little or no danger
from the fire of Spanish batteries on
the east side of the rock, but unfor-
tunately for Mr. Bowles' proposition
the rock on that side is almost precip-
itous, and the base of it is not we'll
adapted for the carrying out of the de-
sired improvements. Although the
French critics declare that the trans
ference OF the work to the east side
seems almost impracticable, a British
commission appointed to investigate
the matter has agreed with Mr.. Bowles'
view and submitted a plan for con-
/ structing the works on the east side.
1t remains to be seen whether the plan
! is really feasible. In any event, the
French critics declare. the world at
large will no longer regard Gibraltar as
the impregnable fortress of inestimable
Importance to British interests which
the English jingoes have always held
| it to be.-New York Sun.
His First Business Venture.
An Ana~fosp oanFRolis+ ~ -