Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-06-28
Butte Man Has First Hand
Knowledge of Gibraltar

Brother P. v. Reid, assistant princi-
pal of Boys Central high school IN
Butte, is one Montanan who has first
hand knowledge of the Rock of Glib
raltar. now one of the uch-discussed
points since Italy entered World war
Brother Reid was a member Of the
community of Irish Christian brothers
there from 1918 to 1920. The order
world. one of which is located in the
city of Gibraltar, situated at the bot
tom of the famous cliff.
The Butte teacher was member OF
| the schools teaching staff during the
DAYS of the first World war. "At that
time" he said, the guns on the fort,
ress were sufficient to repel any and
all invaders by land or sea. Now that
mechanical warfare is playing so large
a part time alone will tell whether the
anti-aircraft guns will be able to fight
off air raids that may be attempted
over the rock" as it is called by the
natives.
Has Charge of Boys Schools
Brother Reid mentioned an interest
ing fact. notably that Gibraltar was
the first foreign school established by
the Order of Irish Christian Brothers.
1t was established in 1885. when
Brother Ignatius Rice of Waterford,
The Irish Christian brothers at pres
ent have charge of all the schools for
boys in Gibraltar. These schools con-
sist of three grade schools and board
ing and day school. The boarders come
from cities outside of Gibraltar. These
students are prepared for the Oxford
matriculation examinations. and STU
dents passing these examinations may
enter oxford university or Cambridge
university in England.
The civilian population Is about
10000 and the military garrison about
1000 said Brother Reid. The ordi-
nary civilians are not allowed to as
cend the various roads leading up to
the top of the rock without having
obtained a pass from the governor of
Gibraltar No one is allowed to use a
camera while engaged on these trips.
From the top of the rock a very fine
view may be obtained.
ITO the west one can behold the
broad Atlantic and to the east the
waters of the blue Mediterranean. 1t
is possible to have a swim in the At
lantic ocean in the morning, and in
the afternoon a swim in the Mediter-
ranean
The name Gibraltar comes from the
word 'GibelTarik, which in Arabic
means Mountain of Tarik.' Tarik was
a celebrated Arab chief who embarked
at Tanger on the north coast Of Africa
in 739 A. D.. and with powerful army
of Moors conquered Gibraltar and the
south Of Spain.
Gibraltar is promontory and i'm
portant fortress in the south OF Spain,
in the province OF Andalusia at the
entrance from the Atlantic into the
Mediterranean. 1t is, in fact, a great
rocky mountain about three-quarters
OF mile in width, and from 200 to
l 400 feet in height. The bay of Gibral-
tar is about nine miles long. and forms
a convenient and well-protected naval
base station. The fortress faces the
mountains of Abyla, near the town and
fortress of Ceuta on the African side
of the straits.
Formerly Called Calpe
Gibraltar was formerly known as
Abyla were called The Pillars of Her
cules' because the demigod, Hercules,
is said to have formed the strait of
| Gibraltar by splitting the mountain
through with stroke of his club, thus
separating Calpe from Abyla, and max
ing the distance between them. or the
breadth of the strait about Is miles
A strong current always runs through
the straits from the ocean to the
Mediterranean sea, and at a great
depth it is supposed there is always
strong current running outward to the
ocean.
The town of Gibraltar is built at
the foot of this barren rock or craggy
hill, and can be approached only BY
narrow passage between the noun
tain and the sea. across which the
Spaniards have drawn line and forth
fled 1t to prevent the English garrison
from. having any intercourse with the
country.
The town consists of a principal
street, from half to three-quarters of
mile long, with many off-Shoots, and
contains about 1900 inhabitants of
various nations-Irish, English, Span
iards, Moors and Jews. Each religion
Is fully tolerated. Catholics are the
most numerous.
Surrounded by Wall
The city is surrounded by a strong
wall supported by bastions and other
works. Its chief protection is from the
great batteries on the neighboring
heights, which sweep both the isthmus
and the approach to the town by water.
AS a fortress, Gibraltar dates back
to about TIP A. D. The Saracens took
1t In 725 A. D. and it continued In
their possession until 1910, when 1t
passed under Ferdinand w, king of
CASTLE. Again in 1888 it was taken by
the Saracens under the emperor Of
Fee and was held by the Fezzans until
14lO when 1t was taken by joseph III,
king OF Granada, In Spain. In the