THE WAR AND ITS BEARING UPON THE COLONIES.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2297, 16 September 1870, Page 2

THE WAR AND ITS BEARING UPON THE COLONIES.

[fhe Lyttelton, Times writes If England should be compel ed to take part in the war, the attitude of Russia will become a question of special interest in these colonies. The whole of the French navy would be required at home to cope with the combined fleets of England and Prussia, but if Russia declared for. Franco, we should have to face the probable contingency of a hostile visit from the fleet which the former is understood to have stationed about the mouth of. the Amoor. But; though there is little or no danger to Be apprehended from French memof-war, seqing that there is a. tolerably, efficient squadron of English vessel/? in Australian waters, our-trade might Ijc seriously crippled, and our chief towns put inkier contribution by privateers, allured thither by tlie wide reppte of our. goldfields, and the; rich harvest that might bo gathered from British ships freighted with Australasian produce. We have said that tlie Victorian Government contemplate sending a despatch boat to Galle with the view of obtaining direct and early intelligence in case England should be involved in the war. When they have fully considered the matter, we think they will see that such' a course is altogether unnecessary, The declaration of Avar by, England would be kuoWii almost immediately on the Indian station, and instructions AVouldno doubt be telegraphed directing tbe-iilstant despatch of a fast ve .sel to the nearest telegraph station in Australia. The Commodore in command of the Australian station would be amongst the first to receive the intelligence, and it would be his duty to communicate it to the G(jA r ermnent of New Zealand without delay. For these reasons, and for others that might be urged, wo think it would be useless to send a despatch boat to Galle. That tjia Victorian Government mean to prepare for the wbrst, is very e\'ideut' from the statements made in the .drjws. The

local military authorities have recommended that the Volunteers should be invited to familiarise themselves more with garrison duty and infantry and gun drill, and a detailed schemeis given whereby this may be done so as hot to interfere with the daily avocations of the men composing the force. This scheme, we are told, only awaits the ratification of the Government's a body to be put in force. Meantime, instructions have been issued to the Public Works Department which will ensure the speedy preparation of barrack accommodation. The Volunteers are likely, it is said, to respond with enthusiasm, and to accept readily the proposal of the Government that they should be placed on a Militia footing. Other preparations a e mentioned, such as the enrolment of a permanent or staff corps of experienced soldiers, an order to the Naval Brigade instructing the men to hold themselves in readiness for drill bn board the Nelson, the construction and equipment of gnu-carriages, and the formal appointment of Colonel Ward, K.E., as the adviser of the Government in all matters relating to defence. The other Australian Colonies do not appear to have caught the enthusiasm, or they have failed to recognise the necessity for arming ; or, which is quite as likely, they do not talk about their intentions.