GIBRALTAR—ITS DEFENCE,

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 4254, 3 July 1895, Page 6

GIBRALTAR— ITS DEFENCE,

Experiments at Shoeburyness have shown that an Armstrong shell can be thrown 9,176 yards — about five and one-third miles. It is therefore absolutely clear that if all the fleet were temporary absent, either on some special mission or dispersed by a storm, hostile ironclads taking up a position within four miles of the eastward of Europa Point might with impunity send shot aDd shell into the outlying parts of the fortress and cause much destruction of life and property. On the other hand, the Governor of the fortress would not be idle, and the experiences of the late civil war in America have abundantly proved that the cannon in fortresses, if they strike a ship of war with their projectiles even at long range, may do considerable mischief ; while, on the other hand, many shot and shell may strike a fort and only do trifling damage. It is practically impossible to throw shot or shell over the high part of the Rock, near Spain, and the cannon ensconced in the unique rock galleries, with their Royal Artillery gun detachments, would be absolutely safe. Even if the neutral ground between Gibraltar and Spain were occupied by a hostile foe comparatively little damage would be the result. During the writer's stay at Gibraltar it was considered desirable to try the experiment of firing upward from the plain on the Spanish side into the galleries, dummies being placed to represent the necessary gun detachments. A regiment, several hundred strong, was accordingly placed in position and supplied with ball cartridges. The range, however, was unknown, and the fire being directed upward it was fully an hour before any of the dummies were hit, after the expenditure of much ammunition. In actual warfare, of course, the British rifle sharpshooters must have picked out their foes by firing downward from the galleries. Bomb-proof barracks and hospitals are potent factors against the horrors of bombardment, and there is little doubt that there is ample room at Gibraltar for some amendment on this head. The Governor, who resides at the convent, is usually an officer of the Scientific Corps — namely, the Royal Artillery, or the Royal Engineers, and this is as it should be.— Col. E. Mitchell 'Temple Bar.'