The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-06-13


Gibraltar is beyond question the most
famous fortress in the world, rising
1400 feet above the surrounding sea
and equipped with over 1000 guns, each
gun having its own magazine. 1t is
calculated that Gibraltar is at all times
so perfectly equipped that it could
stand a thirtyyear siege.
Britain guards this formidable rock
with jealous care; every available point
for defense bristles with artillery; the
mountain is honeycombed with gal
1eries, and bomb proofs, steep esearps
bar all approach, and batteries hewn
in the solid stone frown alike on
friend and foe.
The strip of peninsula connecting
Gibraltar with the Spanish territory is
called the "neutral ground,'' and is so
low that seen from the sea few miles
off Gibraltar has the appearance of a
detached rock. The approaches, both
from this neutral ground and from the
sea, are guarded by great number Of
very powerful batteries, and by fortifi
cations so strong in themselves and in
their relative bearing on each other
that the rock is fairly regarded as i'm
pregnable. The rock is three miles in
length and three fourths of a mile in
average breadth. 1t is garrisoned by a
thoroughly efficient force of 5000 infan-
try, with 1000 artillery and large
body of engineers.
Five and half miles across the Bay
of Gibraltar is the Spanish town Of
Algeciras, and on the east side of this
bay is the town of Gibraltar, inhabited
by a motley agglomeration of some
$4,000 British, Spaniards, Jews and
Moors.
A combined British and Dutch force,
under Sir George Rookie, took the
stronghold of Gibraltar from Spain in
1904, since which time it has remained
continuously in the possession of Great
Britain; but not without the necessity
of her resisting many desperate efforts
on the part of Spain and France to
dislodge her. The most memorable of
the sieges to which Gibraltar has been
exposed commenced in 1879, when Great
Britain, being engaged in the struggle
with its revolted American colonies and
at the same time at war with France,
Spain took the opportunity of joining
the coalition and directed her whole
strength against the isolated garrison
of this small but redoubtable fortress.
This memorable siege, lasting three
years, seven months and three days,
fills perhaps the most glorious place in
British annals. Famine was faced many
times, the disparity of force was ever
great and the most daring and heroic
tactics were called for to save the
fortress from falling, into the hands of
the enemy. In July, 1882, the assail-
ants prepared for the grand assault.
Additional batteries were constructed
on the land side, and floating batteries,
built for this special siege, to batter
the fortress from the sea. The latter
consisted of ten large vessels, whose
sides were fortified by seven feet of
timber and other materials supposed to
be obstructive of shot; they were COW
cred by slanting shot-proof roofs and
were intended to be moored by massive
chains within half-range of the rock.
Covered boats, destined to dlsembark
10000 troops. were at the same time
prepared. The British numbered 1000
men.
The great attack commenced Sep
TENDER S, 1882, by a bombardment
simultaneously on all sides; nine line
of-battle ships poured in their broad
sides; fifteen gun-and mortar boats ap-
preached the town, while from the
Spanish lines on the peninsula l70
pieces of ordnance of large callber
opened in one magnificent discharge.
This terrific fire continued for four
DAYS, when the combined French and
Spanish fleets, numbering forty-seyen
sail-of-the-line. the ten battering ships
mentioned above, esteemed lndestruc-
tible. with many frigates and smaller
vessels anchored in the Bay of Glbral-
tar On the 18th every gun of besiegers
and besieged was in play. The batter
ing vessels proved, as anticipated, IN
vulnerable to shot and shell. Ihe
British defenders, suffering damage, re-
sorted to the expedient of red-hot balls
These, and incendiary shells, were con-
ceutrated on the batterlng ships IN I'M
ceasing volleys. Success was doubtful
for some hours. but toward evening the
gigantic efforts of the British force
began to show results. The ship of the
Spanish admiral was in flames, the sec
ond in command was soon in the same