New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
GIBRALTAR PASSING.
Not the Rock, But Its Importance as a
Fortress.
From Nc Philadelphla Inquirer.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer.
For nearly two hundred years. or since its capt
TO a very recent period. the rock OF Gibraltar has
been the synonyme Tor impresnaolllty ana Us pos
with an absolute control over the entrance 10 the
1t dominates one Of the most frequented waters
IN the world From every quarter OK the Woe
ship tracks converge. Those coming from the
East. from the ports Of the MedlteFTanesns from
China India. Australia ana the lar racine, SiUSS
those which arrive there from England and the
south America and western Africa. and every day
Throughout the year nearly two hundIed yesse.s
in sight OF the gigantic fortress which stands there
such being the case. It is no wonder that Great
Britain. with its vast commerce to protect and It's
distant colonies ana aePeh1enees 70 70 The pIsca
with such tenacious grasp. that IL should have
termost the natural advantages OF the position and
TO make Gibraltar, In very fact. the Key TO the
control OF the Mediterranean was never 50 i'm
portant 70 Great Britain as II Is To-Day when the
around the Cape OF Good Hope has been diverted
sure OF that control against whatever opposition
may DO encountered has been and Is the constant
sOlcitude OF the British government
onIv TO render C;ibraltar impresnabie, but to de-
velop it's full utility naval base. The rock
has been honeycombed with galleries and stocked
70 the limit with provisions and munitions Of war
Of which the place BY nature is devoid There is
strength OF the garrison is 1000 men. On the sum
NIT OF the hill 30 guns OF heavy calbre and mod
ern pattern have been Installed, and. the har
bor was insufficient for the present need. the
British government lately undertook Its extension,
and Is now engaged In the execution OF plans at
an estimated OF S22OO0OO0. which II expects
complete IN about a year or eighteen months from
date.
Yet grave doubt has been raised as 20 the
wisdom OF this expenditure, and there are thoSs
who declare that the trust which is placed in Glib
raltar naval base might. If put 10 the test be
disappointed That the position dominates the en-
trance to the Mediterranean has ceased TO be true.
II did so the days OF sailing vessels. because,
owing TO the OF the currents. such YES
sells were compelled TO close to the rock IN
order to get through the straits Things are diff
ferent From Gibraltar to Ceuta. on the
African coast. is fourteen miles, and, as there Is
plenty OF deep water of Ceuta, vessels propelled
by steam can traverse the naTrows beyond the ef-
factive range Of the British guns. The domination
Of the Mediterranean by the fortress IA at end.
But that is not all. the worst. The experts
have discovered that the port. the town, the new
harbor. the barracks. everything would be within
range Of heavy artillery placed Spanish soil
where along the whole stretch OF the bay Of Alge-
ciras at distances varying from 5000 to 1900 yards
1t Is unnecessary TO demonstrate the gravity OF
that circumstance. Its effect upon the military
value OF Gibraltar is obvious In view of IT. SO good
authority Sir Charles Dixie is arguing that
If Spain could be induced to exchange Ceuta for
Gibraltar II would be a good bargain for Great