The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01
'MINORCA FOR GIBRALTARp
4 Proposition Now Under Coas3derst1se
BY British Military Writers.


BY British Military WrftegS.
The advisability Of exchanging Gibral-
tar for some other strategic point In the
Mediterranean Is being discussed In the
British military journals The docks At
Gibraltar, on the west side Of the Rock,
are exposed TO the FIRE Of long-rsngs ar
tillery from the Spanish mainland and
docks on the east side would have to b
protected from the eastern g,---s, for wbish
purpose It would bs necessary TO con.
stuct immense breakwaters. in deep sound
ings, at q cost Of many millions Of pounds.
This being the case the problem whether
the strategical objects aimed at could not
be obtained In a more complete and salts
factory manner by other means naturally
arises.
Ceuta. opposite Gibraltar and belonging
to Spain. has been proposed, but the map
Of the country shows that the peninsula
from a military point of view. Is much tnS
same as Gibraltar, with its faults intensi.
fed No place in the western waters OF
the Mediterranean seems TO meet the case
better than Minorca. with lite magnificent
harbor Of Port Mahon.
This place Offers great facilities for docks
secure from attack, The harbor is about
tITct Hnlt'r lOHR, anu It's "idth okNo
about half mile There Is excellent an
chorage for a large number Of the heaviest
battleships, the holding ground consisting
mostly OF sand, shells and gravel. Along
its sides run hills protecting IL from Ore,
and offering sites for forts with a good
command Of the surrounding area. The
highest points Of these hills are at the enc
trance 70 the herbor. where the modern
and powerful fort OF La Mola now COM
mands the passage. As regards its posi-
ton. 1t lies practically at the centre OF
a circle, on the circumference Of which
are the great naval ports Of Cartagena,
Toulon. Genoa and Spezzia, and In the
direct line between Toulon and Algeria,
and would consequently menace the line
OF communication between France and
her great colony. II is, therefore. grand
naval strategical centre, and would con-
stitute an excellent naval base, especially
for blockading feet. The island Is about
200 square miles IN extent ana e ven
stocked with cattle. sheep. goats and mules.
while fruits and vegetables are abundant
and wheat and barley are cultivated.
The British. OF course. count largely on
the national pride OF Spain in eMecting
this exchange Spain loohs on Gibraltar
az a part OF her tatherland, and deeply
re~ents its retention by the British conee-
quentlv that country will probably b
favorably inclined ~ the proposal.
The exchange OF Gibrelt r for other terri.
tory has been proposed BY several Minis
posed to restore II in exchange for Mnorcs.
Great Britain does not fear the actual power
Of Spain so much, hut II Gibraltar were
held out as q bait to induce her to ioin an
alliance, Great Prifan wouh have the use
Of the important ports OF Ferrol and Car
tagena..
The history OF Minorca Is Of interest:
II wa. captured by the British In i7Oe and
held by them until 1854, when great
French expedition was planned against IT,
After enticing the British fleet away on
other work. the Duke OF Richelieu. With
1900 men in l2n transports. conveyed by
Ia Galissoniere with twenty sail Of the line,
laid siege to Port Mahon. in which wac .
mea IRE garrison under Gen Blakeney. Tho
Pr sh held out calamity in Fort St. Philip
(still In existence, opposite the modern
uallv capitulated with the honors Of war.
During this siege the relief OF Port Mehon
was attempted by Byng without success,
and for this the latter was superseded and
eventually tried by oourt-marttal and shot
In I!ss Great Britain reeained Hne nc
pines. In iM3 il was again besiesed BY
an expedition. which started from CadiS
under the Duke OF Crillon, n II to attack
the British West Indies. but turned round.
slipped through the straits and sailed for
Minoroa where it landed 5000 men. Gen.
Murray. the Governor. retired Into Fort
St. Philip with his force Of four regiments.
and did not surrender until II had been
reduced bv scurvy and other diseases to
enc In 1873 Minorca again capitulated to
the British. after the Battle Of the Nile, but
in 1902 the iten Government. thinking Malta
suflcient for British needs in the Mediter-
ranean. ceded 1t to Spain under the treaty
of Amiens.