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QINGDAO TODAY
在线翻译:
szdaily -> Speak Shenzhen -> 
The Great Siege of Gibraltar
    2019-08-12  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

James Baquet

The American Revolution and the War of 1812 were not strictly North American events. Other European powers were looking for advantage, and used these conflicts as reasons — or excuses — to engage with Great Britain, America’s enemy in both wars.

Take the situation at Gibraltar during the American Revolution. With British troops heavily committed in the New World, Spain and France attempted to take away from Britain that rock in the strait leading from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. This led to a blockade in June 1779, first by Spain alone, who were then joined by France in early 1782.

This “Great Siege of Gibraltar” was frankly not very successful. In addition to the small ships that occasionally got in, two major British convoys ran the blockade unmolested, in 1780 and again in 1781, bringing relief provisions and, in the first instance, reinforcements. In both cases, the Spanish had put up determined but ineffective resistance.

Word got out to the British that in November 1781 the Spanish were planning a major attack. The night before it was to happen, the British made a sortie against the Spanish with over 2,500 men, resulting in destruction of Spanish provisions, weapons and ammunition, and defense works. The British had 27 casualties (two dead, 25 wounded); the Spanish, over a hundred. The Spanish attack was delayed by months, during which the British dug tunnels through the rock.

With their victory in another siege, at Minorca (another Mediterranean island), French troops and Spanish reinforcements now arrived to join the Siege of Gibraltar. A September 8 counterattack by the British was very effective, spurring the allies to launch a “grand assault” on Sept. 13.

The British fired super-heated rocks at the attacking ships and floating barge-like platforms from which the assault was launched, setting them afire. Nearly 1,500 allies died, and over 350 were taken prisoner. The British suffered only 15 deaths and 68 wounded.

Sporadic fighting continued, but the Spanish and French allies’ failure in the “grand assault” led ultimately to a treaty that left Gibraltar in British hands.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. firm, resolute

2. closing off of a place by ships etc.

3. occasional, intermittent

4. causing, urging (on)

5. flat-bottom vessel

6. without resistance

7. started, initiated

8. more men

9. narrow passage of water

10. rapid movement of troops out of a besieged place

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