Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-06
Death Traps

the allies. II gave them something tam
gble and concentrated to strike at. To
this was added the great advantage OF
the open sea as "A base. Their defeat
should have served as useful lesson
to the Muscoyites against the folly Of
concentrating their lighting strength at
a single point.
There are two fortresses which have
never been taken since they were well
fortified - Cronstadt and Gibraltar,
These are the only examples OF perma-
nent and elaborate strongholds which
have thus far answered all expectations
and have never been captured though
one OF them--Gibraltar- been vlo-
lently assaulted. 1t is possible that Rus
sia's confidence I'm her ability to trans
form Port Arthur into an unconquera-
BILE fortress was inspired by her pride
In Cronstadt. This redoubtable forth
icatlon is built on the island Of Kotlln,
In the gulf of Finland. II IL only thr-
ty-one miles from ST. Petersburg and
would be of good service in the event
Of n Finnish insurrecton as a check TO
any sudden move on the capital, It
was founded by Peter the Great In 1910
and still contains the little cabin In
which that sturdy despot lived. 1t has
three harbors, accommodating 1000
vessels. 1t fairly bristles with earth
works, forts and batteries.
The strategic worth OF Gibraltar was
known to the ancients, II was one Of
the Pillars of Hercules, which were
crowned by the Phoeniclan mariners
with silver columns to mark what they
believed to be the limits OF navigation.
In the year III an Arab chief built a
fortress ON the rock The Castilans
and the Moors were tenants for varia-
BILE periods. In 1910 Charles V. built
extensive defenses on the promontory.
In 1904 the rock was captured by the
Dutch and English fleet which was In
the service of Archduke Charles of
Austria But the afchduke did not get
It; II was seized by the English some
thing after the fashion Of the Russian
occupation of Port Arthur. The Brit
ish proceeded to erect the famous
stronghold as It now appears, and it
has never been taken, although It has
had some stirring experiences. one
siege lasted three years, seven months
and twelve days.
Mafekng and Ladysmith, although
little more in a strictly military sense
than fortified camps, may be cited as
examples Of long and heroic endurance.
Neither OF these famous places was ell
ther reduced or stormed, both holding
out heroically until relieved. The po-
sition of Ladysmith was not an ideal
spot for an encampment. on three
sides of It, at a distance of three or
four miles, were numerous hills. on
the SUBMITS Of these the Beers had
mounted their guns. The town was
the railway terminus from Durham, and
there seemed TO be no especial reason
why 1t should be held, In the old days
of the first Transvaal war 1t was "A
garrison town, and afterward the
troops were withdrawn. In 1897 1t was
again made a camp, and earthworks
were built, It was jokingly remarked
at the time that the new activity was
due to the necessity Of providing some
distraction for the soldiers, who were
on the point OF succumbing from ennui.
There were always about 1000 men IN
the camp, and they lived under canvas.
II would be absurd to suppose that
Ladysmith was impregnable. 1t has been
likened to a hamlet built in a teacup.
To show how stubbornly IT was held 1t
is sufficient to state that the Beers be-
gan the siege on Nov 2, 1899 and II
was defended by General White and his
gallant troops until the following May,
when relief force under Lord Dun
donald rescued It from what was
speedily becoming a perilous situation,
As for Mafeking, II was still less en-
titled to be dignified with the name of
fortress, II was small border camp