Page:A Handbook for Travellers in Spain - Vol 1.djvu/90

[74] the Peninsula, which was held by the Moors when driven from the rest of Spain.

A cross-range, called the Iberian Mountains, which slopes steep to the east, runs from about the middle of the northern range, in the direction of the east end of the southern range, terminating at the Mediterranean. Between this cross-range and the east part of the Pyrenees runs the Ebro, which thus forms a second barrier between France and Spain. The possession of this river-basin has sometimes formed the object of French cupidity. The other river-basins all start from the Iberian Mountains, west of which the country slopes gradually down to the Atlantic, forming the high dreary central plateau of Spain.

The rivers are separated by high and steep mountain chains: the Sierra Morena between the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana; the mountains of Toledo between the Guadiana and the Tagus; and the Sierra Guadarama and Sierra Estella, between the Tagus and the Douro. There were and are still few good roads through Spain and Portugal, and these are defended by fortresses at important points, besides offering many defensive positions in the rivers and mountain chains they crossed. Cross-coramunication between the roads and river basins was difficult.

These considerations give the key to the whole strategy of the Peninsular War.

The country being almost surrounded by the sea afforded to the English numerous points from which to attack the French army, which was described by Napoleon as “always on the frontier;” the mountainous nature of the country and the paucity of its resources gave great opportunities for guerilla warfare, and to the saying “that in ita small army would be defeated and a large one would starve.”

The few main roads and the absence of good cross-communication between the river-basins gave Wellington the opportunity, by masterly combinations, of acting against the divided armies of the French and beating them in detail. When thus, in a series of campaigns, he had by the Lines of Torres Vedras and by the capture of Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo secured his own base against capture, he could securely advance in force against his enemy; and in his final campaign, while advancing himself direct on the road to France, he could send his lieutenant, Graham, to execute the famous flank march through the northern provinces, and meeting him at Vittoria, effect the final overthrow of the French forces in the Peninsula; then transferring his base of operations to the northern part of Spain, he could safely and securely drive the enemy over the Pyrenees and advance into France.

The Travelling Map engraved by Stanford expressly for this Handbook, is based upon the latest authorities, and will probably render any other unnecessary.

The ordnance map of Spain, Mapa Itinerario Militar de España, in 20 sheets, is now completed and forms a good outline map, but no mountain ranges or hills are depicted thereon, This is a drawback in so