THE "TIMES" ON THE ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1751, 27 January 1888, Page 3

THE "TIMES" ON THE ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA

The " Times," speaking of an Important artiole m the "lov-lide Rnsse" of the 15 h December on the repotted missing. >f ; Russian troops on her western frontier, I said it is to be regretted that the authoritative article m the " Invallde," written, It I is understood, nnder the supreme O-un-mand by General Krapotkine of the grand general staff, is not calculated to allay tbe feelings of alarm and mistrust stll! existing on the matter io question. In the two neighboring countries the article has caused a dco : ded feeling of uneasiness m official oirebs. Iv Vienna the situation is considered serious. The article referred to states that " owing to the alarm raised by tbe Austrian presn on acoount of tbe transfer of some Russian cavalry regiments to the Warsaw military distrlot, we regard it as advisable to consider tbe military position of Russia and tbat of our western neighbors m tbe frontier districts, m order to throw light upon the question of who is really preparing for tbe attack. Daring the past five years the peace effective o f the German army has been increased by 65 battalions and 384 guns, and tbe strength of German troops on the Russian frontier by 21 battalions of infantry, 27 batteries of artillery, acd 15 squadrons of oavalry. Siuce 1878 Germany haa constructed m her e -stern provinces 4350 kilometrea of railways " After giving other facts regarding the concentration ot troops by Germany and Austria upon the I-uashn frontier, the " Invallde" oontlnuer— «« What ia RuasU doing m view of the threatening preparations of her neighbors? Notwithstanding her manifest danger, Rii'Bla considered that a European war wonld by a terrible misfortune f<_r mankind, and was quiet amid the feverish armaments of her neighbors Russia did not increase but decreased her defenaive forc3. In 1881 and 1882 Russia reduced the peace effective of her army by nearly 100,000 men. It is true that m the following year she again raised her effective, tut that Btep was forced upon her by Afghan affair?, and also by tha necessity of improving her preparednefa for mobilisation when her neighbors were unremittingly raising their fighting slreogth. Nevertheless the peace effective of the Ru„hn army numbers even m the pre .ent ye-»r 75,185 less than m 1?81, while her neighbors during the same period have raised their peace effective by 75,000 _ren. There ia no doubt tbat Russia, m the event of war, will assemble a n.i.jh'y army, but its conct ntration would be incomparably more difficult than for ber neighbors Further on it continues : — " A glance at tbo map is sufficient to 1 show by what a cloae network of railways the zone of the Russian frqntier is sur rounded, and on the other hand what ao j in-ignificaot number of lines Ru^Biu hue

to rely upon for concentrating her foroes distributed m the wr st. During a time of peace, not only from Germany, but from Austria-Hungary, is Russian territory threatened with a sudden invasion ; there-

fore there is only one course, namely, to place tbe Russian fortresses m a better state of defence, and increase the military forces m the frontier provinces In order to guard aga'n t surprise. , Rossi a military parsonages have no feat regarding the ultimate issue of a conflict. E7_n if all the forces of a peace league are moved ont against Russia, yet they recognise none the Jesa certainly uiat the defence cf Russian territory Is not yet assured, and that if the peace league considers (tsslf jas titled for the developement of it* defensive measures to go ao far as to bring Russtan districta under the range of its most advanced posts, Ruesia also has an

undoubted right to provide for its do fence, and take all moaaures to uphold the honor and maintain the integrity of her territories." Io Berlin It i*con.ilerectile artiole constitutes an indlreot threat

The utterances of the

against Ausrtta.

" Invallde Russe," however. It is stated m well 'nformed quarters m Vienna, wll l produce no change In the attitude of the Austria Government, which will wait to

see whether Russia continues her threatening military measures or ceases them. Every preparation baa been made m "Vienna for tho eventual despatch of oavalry to GalHoia, but action not be taken unle.s a freiib displacement of Russian troops occurs. Meanwhile the

erection of huts for the troops will be proceeded with at Gallioia. aa the present accommodation is very Inadequate.

The constable m oharga of the district m whioh the ruby field is situated, near Alioe Springs, has reported that a large number of men are now these, nearly 860 being engaged m gathering rubiep, while the remainder are either prospering tor gold or working claims at Paddy's Hole. ThoFe gathering the stones are scattered over a large extent of country, while the gold-seekers are within a mile or two of Paddy's Hole. Some of the latter are said to be getting good ret.rns. Several good reefa have been found, one of whioh is estimated to give over 3oz to the ton.

Hoj-LowAY _ Ointment and Pills. — Coughs, Influenza.— -The soothing properties of these medicaments render them well worthy of trial m all diseases of the respiratory organs. In common colds and Influenza the Pills, take internally, and the Ointment rubbed over the chest and throat, are exceedingly ffioacious. VJhen infyienga iq gpldemio. tb}s treatment is tbe easiest, softest, and Bureat. Holloway _ Pills purify the blood, remove all obstacles to its free circulation hrough the lungs, relieva the over-gorged ir-tubes, and render respiration free, with. ut reduoing the strength, irritating the erves, or depressing the spirits ; suoh are c ready means of esoaping from suffering hen afaioted with oolds, coughs, bronchitis, nd other chest complaints, . by wbioh the •altbof so many > is seriously and parma* , jjtlj injured io most oouutriti.