THE VALUE OF GIBRALTAR.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 183, 1 August 1901, Page 3

THE VALUE OF GIBRALTAR.

Gibraltar (about 1,000 mile* from Eng* land) is of immense importance as being the great watch*tower from which the more, meuta of warships can -boT observed and telegraphed as they into and out of the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, situated a* it is near the fluiok of ohr trade routes both to the Gape and to the West Indies and South America, it is the point at which vessels would naturally call f6r neWa, orders, coal, and protection during the boptinttanm of war. When you consider that lb every eecond of time twenty tons of shipping ro out or come into our home porta, ana that, as a matter of fact, the stream is continuous and never ceases, and that the velue of the sea* boflae trade of the British Empire is calon*, fated at *960,000,000, Of which about <250,000,000 neither eomee nor goes from the United Kingdom, it seems difficult te exaggerate the value of' the fortress of Gibraltar. or to realise the congestion of British shipping which might seek Ite pro* lection in war. It has at present no dry dock* Its garrison consists of seven companies of artillery, four companies of engineers, and three battalion* of infantry. It is the meeting-place of our Channel and Mediterranean squadrons. Thr roads do not afford safe anchorage in all winds, and fen enemy could conceivably shell them if he mounted heavy guns OU Bpaaiehaoii.