KEYS TO THE STRAITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 9

KEYS TO THE STRAITS

GIBRALTAR & CEUTA

HISTORY RECALLED

Gibraltar" and Ceuta form the two pillars—the keystones—of the Straits, and were they both in the hands of the same power the command of the entrance to the Mediterranean would be complete, says a writer in the Melbourne "Age." The possession of Ceuta to a certain extent compensates the Spaniards for the loss of Gibraltar.

The two fortresses are kept up at all times on a war footing. Ceuta is almost equal in its natural capabilities of defence to compete with its rival on the opposite, side of the Straits. It ' stood in imminent danger of being captured by the French, or possibly the 'Moors, through'the incapability and the neglect-of the Spanish Junta during the time of the Peninsula War; but that was averted by the decision of Sir ■Colin Campbell, who, on his, own responsibility against the wish of the Spaniards, sent over 500 men to defend it.:

Ceuta is a very ancient place of Phoenician origin. On the decline of the Roman Empire it was occupied first by the Goths, and afterwards by the Moors, in whose hands it increased in ■wealth- and refinement, until captured by John I of Portugal, at whose death it fell to the'share of the Spaniards, who established military headquarters there. It was from this very place that, more than 1100 years ago, the Moors, in the time of Koderic, the last Gothic King, crossed over to achieve the conquest of Spain. The feud between the .Spaniards and the Moors continued without cessation for the. next 800 years. 111-feeling, though suppressed, had never been extinguished. There was an outbreak of hostilities in 1859. Ceuta is now once" more in the public eye. A revolt against the Spanish Republic, in which troops, including the Foreign Legion, joined, has occurred in Spanish Morocco. It is reported that.the rebels have seized arid occupied military headquarters at Ceuta, and that the trouble has spread to the mainland, and Spain is at present engaged in civil war. Such is the situation today. CAPTURE OF GIBRALTAR. On July 24, 1704, during the war of succession, Gibraltar was captured by Sir George Rooke. Gibraltar was well known to the ancients, but was never inhabited, unless, indeed, by the ancestors of the 'Town Major," as the commander of the apes was called. There is a barrack-room', tall story~ that many years ago one of these apes was captured young, and :brought up in strict discipline; in fact, under martial law. 1 He wore the uniform, and performed the duties jof a. foot sentinel; more than this, he drew his pay and knew to a nicety what he had to receive. Further, he transacted all his marketing business himself, purchasing fruit and bread.upon which he lived, and laying down the exact amount M for his purchases. Where he banked his surplus cash has never been found! The monkeys of "Gib" «were seldom visible to anyone except when severe gales caused them to go to the sheltered side of-the Rock. .:V4 The ancient history of -the Rock,iS; a dim' cloud-of legend, from the'days of Hercules down to the/Berber, conqueror Tarik, who took ii in A.D. 711. It! was known to the Moors by the unabbreviated name of Gebel Tarik, or Tank's Mountain. In 1309 Guzman el Bueno took it from the Moors; but they regained it in 1333, owing to the avaricious and dishonest conduct of the then Governor, Vasco Perez de Meyra, who appropriated to private purposes moneys destined for its defence. WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT UP. In 1462 another ; Guzman jfinally recpvered it, and in 1502 it was incorporated 'with the Spanish Crown. The place,was strengthened and fortified by Charles V in 1552. Cromwell.well appreciated the value of such-a possession, but, even.after its capture; by Rooke, George I would have given U up at the Peace of Utrecht, and. the natipn. thought it an insignificant fort, and a useless charge. It was again offered to Spain, if she would refuse ■to sell Florida to Napoleon Bonaparte. The Spaniards never knew the value of i this natural fortress until its loss. Napoleon tried to take it, but failed in his. attempt. So mucK for the history of earlier days. What of the Mediterranean. today? Great Britain has maintined her positioniin the Mediterranean, by her fleet. British sympathy and the support of her fleet did much to help Garibaldi and- his friends in their struggle to form the Italian kingdom. British and Italian relationships have been friendly all through the nineteenth century. Italian policy has been friendship with the British peoples from that time till the rise of Fascism today. Changes in international relationships occur from time to time. Gerat Britain, France, and Italy fought as allies in the Great War in 1914 against a common foe.

During the recent war in Abyssinia international relationships had to be studied with care,'so as to. avoid serious causes.of dispute.; The situation in the Mediterranean 'has changed with dramatic, suddenness; in our day, for sea power'has been lessened by power in the sir,; and , the" world can never be as sure'again'as it has been in the past, because' death and destruction can come to; countries and peoples by air, as well as by laxid arid sea. ,