THE SPANISH GUNFACTORY AND ARSENAL OF TRUBIA. 
437 
The above figures eloquently point to the advance made in Trubia 
during the last few years. 
The factory is at the present moment capable of turning out annually 
40 to 50 coast defence guns or howitzers of 15 cm to 30 cni (5*9 to ll*8-in.) 
calibre with their mountings and projectiles, with which for an annual 
subsidy of 2,300,000 pesetas (£92,000) the work of arming the exten¬ 
sive coast line of Spain can be proceeded with. 
The author claims that when it is considered that in countries suck 
as England, France and Germany large gun factories are maintained by 
the State, and that in addition there are in these countries such power¬ 
ful establishments for the production of war materiel as those of 
Armstrong, Schneider and Krupp, the advantages of having a place 
like Trubia must be recognised. By possessing such an establishment, 
Spain is no longer obliged to rely upon foreign industry, but gets good 
value for its money and can proceed with properly arming its coast 
line; a necessity which has become greater than ever now that navies 
are so steadily increasing in size; and, moreover, there is the great 
advantage that a numerous personnel are always being instructed who 
in their turn tend to raise the intellectual leveljof the country in their 
respective lines of employment. 
The author sums up his remarks with the following conclusions :— 
(1) The reform and development of the factory at Trubia dates 
from the time when materiel of war was constructed in a considerable 
quantity. 
(2) During the last 12 years it has turned out the amount of war 
materiel above described simultaneously with the installation of work¬ 
shops, furnaces, canals, railway lines, &c., and 213 machines (including 
hydraulic and electrical lighting &c.). 
(3) The total personnel employed in the factory has been 1000 
to 1200 men of whom 158 have issued from its school with special 
acquirements. 
(4) The factory can now turn out annually 50 heavy pieces, with 
mountings and projectiles. 
Chapter III. describes the factory as it exists at the present day, but 
space forbids my giving more than a very brief notice of what Colonel 
Ordonez here tells us. 
Trubia is situated on the river of the same name close to where it 
flows into the river Nalon, distant about 8| miles from Oviedo and 27J 
from the neighbouring port of Gijon whence all the products of the 
factory are embarked. It covers an area of some 50 acres and has a 
railway line of the normal gauge, 3920 metres (4286’3 yds.) long, which 
forms a branch of the main line from Leon to Oviedo and Gijon. 
The motive power of the factory amounts to 800 H.P., of which 200 
is derived from the river Trubia by means of a canal about 1120 yards 
long and 3| wide. 
16 generators of the latest patterns, 13 steam engines, 3 turbines 
with horizontal axle and 3 powerful hydraulic wheels place in move¬ 
ment 257 working machines of different classes from the steel forging 
press of 1200 tons to the rifling machine for guns 12 metres (39 ft. 
