GIBRALTAR RINGED

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20267, 9 August 1937, Page 11

GIBRALTAR RINGED

AMAZING DEVELOPMENT. WORK OF GERMAN EXPERTS. (Times Air Mail Service.) LONDON, July i 6. Here are the amazing details ot how Gibraltar Is almost completely ringed with heavy guns and formications, built in rebel Spanish territory under the supervision of German experts, says the Gibraltar correspondent of the Daily Herald. They are placed along the 15 miles of coast from Algeclras to Tarlfa, and stand also at San Roque, two miles behind us. All this work of fortification and building of gun emplacements Is done by gangs of political prisoners from Algeciras Jail. Guns from Germany. Most of the guns have come from Germany. First shipment was on February 22, when the German warship Deutschland landed about a dozen 12-inch guns. *On March 20, a kjonsignment of 16-lnch guns arrived on the warship Von Soheer, whioh also landed the first contingent of German technicians. They are still garrisoned in the neighbourhood and have their headquarters in a British-owned hotel in Algeciras. Also In March, the German tanker Max Albrecht arrived at Algeciras and remained a few weeks ostensibly refuelling German warships. But she discharged a cargo of anti-aircraft guns and maohlne-guns. Fortifications have been built as follows: Two batteries at Getares Bay, about half a mile from Algeciras, one with 16-lnch guns and the other with 14inch guns. A battery ot 16-inoh guns near Venta de Pelayo, about seven miles along the coast from Algeciras. This Is reinforced with another battery built on a peak Immediately behind it, with the same calibre guns and a number of anti-aircraft guns. Other batteries have been built at Punla Carnero. Behind Getares Bay are four howitzer batteries. There are other fortifications between Punta Carnero and Tarifa. Perturbed Civilians. All these forts and emplacements are built of concrete and powerful searchlights are Installed on the hills around them. Just behind Gibraltar, five smaller batteries have been built at San Roque. All this work Is going on under the supervision of German topographical experts, who are now completing secret underground fortifications. British military authorities here are fully aware of what is going on round The Rock, but they do not view these fortifications as a permanent menace to British Interests. ■Civilians in Gibraltar are not so ■optimis-tio.