WAR WITH RUSSIA.

Evening Star, Issue 3127, 26 February 1873, Page 2

WAR WITH RUSSIA.

A CALAMITY FOR AUCKLAND—HOSTILE VISIT OF A RUSSIAN IRONCLAD—SEIZURE OF GOLD AND HOSTAGES.

Such were the sensational “headers’ pointed in the boldest type, which the Southern Cross gave to its two-column imaginary account of a Russian attack on Auckland—the bare reading of which is said to have driven people into fits. The narrative, stripped of all surplusage, reads as follows:-Notwith-standing that telegrahic communication from England to Melbourne and the periodical intercourse by steamer between New Zealand and Australian ports, the sudden declaration of war between Russia and England, arising out of the Central Asian difficulty, and the dishonesty of the Shah of Persia, was only made known to Auckland yesterday by one of the greatest calamities that ever overtook the Colony—an event productive of grave disaster to New Zealand, and destructive of the ancient prestige of England, and her boasted supremacy as sovereign of the seas. That event was the sudden appearance of the hostile ironclad raan-of-war, the “ Kaskowiski,” which took possession of the British war shipping lying in the waters of the Waitemata,' seized our principal citizens as hostages, demanded a heavy ransom for the City, and emptied the coff rs of the banks of all the gold and specie they contained. The steamer Wouga Wonga left on Saturday afternoon, with a large number of passengers for Australia. Un Saturday, a little after midnight, three rockets were sent up from the vicinity of the North Head, It was supposed that there was some treachery on the North Shore, and that some spies had arranged this as a signal to teach the “ Kaskowiski ” the proper time to enter the harbor. Of this there is no certainty. It should be mentioned here that this vessel (as we learn from the statement of one of the crew, a native of the United States, who was found by our shipping reporter on the Bastion rock, which, it appears, was first taken for a fort, and which was reconnoitred by a boat’s crew, who left the American behind by mistake) was built on the Alaska Peninsula. Alaska, as is well known, was sold by Russia to the United States some years ago, but by a baseness of treachery which only the lax supervision of our consular agents could have rendered possible, the Government of Washington had permitted the secret construction of this ironclad in that remote region, so that when ihe time came lor action, she might enter the Pacific, and unannounced pounce on the unprotected Colonies of the British hmpire. She has a complement of 953 men and officers, all told, is provisioned for a year, carries twelve 30-ton guns, and has machinery for the manufacture of the deadly water-gas invented by the late General Todlebeu, and only now practically employed in warfare by Russia, the sole depository of the secret. This gas can be ejected into an opposing vessel from a oonsiuerable distance, and so stealthily as not to be discovered until its paralysing effects have done their work. Its strength can be so modified as either to ignite its own motive and blow up and set on tiro all inflammable material with which it comes in contact, or it may be so diluted as to cause a mephitic vapor Jto overpower all the animal life within the range of its inhalation. This explains the easy seizure of our brave defenders in our war ship, into, and over which this fatal gas was poured. But we aueicipate. At .even o’clock, on Saturday, the Wouga Wouga, while off Kawau, descried a large vessel, hull dowu, steaming, apparently, towards her. After a short time, darkness came on, and she lost sight cf the ship. At 8.10 p.m. a shot was fired across her bows ; she slowed her engines, and a boat came alongside. In peremptory tones its occupants Icuiaiuled what she was, whither bound, and her cargo. On obtaining areply, the ordci wasgivenin good English tolic to as a prisoner of a Russian ship of war. On hearing this a gallant naval officer, who was on board the Wwuga, with the ai4 qS sows paesejjgefs

and crew, lifted a small cannon off the carriage, raised it over the bulwarks, and dropped it into the boat. A loud crash followed. The feat was successful. Ihe gun stove the boat, and in a moment she sank, leaving the crew struggling in the water, helpless. All lights on board the Wonga were immediately extinguished. She altered her course and made for Auckland, but she saw, as the moon rose, that the great speed of the Russian, seventeen knots an hour, was too much for her, and that unless she sought refuge in some of the harbors on the coast she would be inevitably overhauled and captured Accordingly she made for shelter to Mahurangi; and a point of land intervening between her and her pui’suer, she evaded the chase. The swift-sailing cutter Volunteer was providentially in the river to apprise the Aucklanders of the danger, but she did not get there till all the mischief was done.

Arriving stealthily in our harbor, the “ Kaskowiski” sent her submarine pinnace, well manned, and with the mephitic watergas apparatus on board, towards our warship. This new invention silently proceeded, sailing six feet below the surface of the smooth water of the Waiteraata, and rising at the distance of a cable’s length, projected the fatal gas on the vessel. Heavier than our atmospheric air, this vapor speedily penetrated the interior of the ship, producing semi suffocation to all on board. The watch alarmed those below, hut it was too late. Six boats with marines surrounded the vessel, and she was hoarded. The captain and some of the officers of our ship, with a handful of the crew. Weak and almost breathless, attempted to face the boarders, but without effect. It was resolved to fire the magazine and prevent the foe from taking the vessel. Taking instructions from the captain, who was overcome by the vapor, one of the lieutenants crawled below. He was seen and followed by one of the Bus ian officers, who cut him down as he was about to fire a pistol into the magazine, the hatch of which was then closed. There was a brief strugg’e on deck ; the fainting bluejackets were overpowered ; the ship was in the enemy’s hands, and. she now lies with the hated doable Eagle floating at the main above our loved “ meteor flag of England.”

Then came the extortion of the enemy. Detachments had b;en sent ashore during the night. These took possession of the armory and magazines, with all the arms and ammunition in the city. The telegraph offices were occupied to prevent the transmission of the news of this disaster to other places in the Colony, and particularly to the Thames. The telegraphic station at Onehunga, and all stations within forty miles of Auckland were occupied by strong guards. The steamer Golden Crown was seized, and a body of eighty men, armed with short repeating rifles, and strengthened with four rocket tubes, to fire the town if necessary, was sent to Grahamstown in order to take the treasu-e from the banks in that town. There could be only one result, but we have heard nothing of it, as, although the enemy permit the passing of ordinary telegrams (they have their own English-trained telegraphists), for obvious reasons they allow nothing to pass along the wires respecting their own proceedings. During the night the captain of the Russian ship, Vice-Admiral Rerodskoff, landed with a body of Russian marines and sailors, armed with cutlasses and repeating needle carbines. He proceeded to the Provincial Council Chamber, and thence sent messengers commanding the attendance of the Superintendent of the Province, the Mayor of the city, all the bankers and bank-directors, and members of the Assembly. These gentlemen were ordered out of bed, and, amidst the terror and dismay of their families, were led to the Council room. On their arrival, they were placed in the centre of the chamber,—-the armed men, with carbines loaded and bayonets fixed, lining the walls of the room. Seated on the Speaker’s chair, Admiral Herodskoff, in good English, read a requisition, demanding immediate payment of one and a half million of roubles (L 250,000 sterling), as a ransom for the safety of the city; and intimating that, if the money were not paid within three hours, he should retire to his ship an(L burn the town. He first asked what the Superintendent had to produce from the Provincial chest. Whereupon his Honor exhibited the Treasurer’s accounts, and proceeded to prove that the Province had no “accumulated savings,” and that the assets had entirely disappeared, in consequence of recent financial arrangements under the hands of his officials. He proposed that the General Government should be applied to, as from his own experience he knew that there were funds in that exchequer. He was proceeding to show the means by which the money might be forthcoming from Wellington, when he was interrupted by the Admiral, who said that he should see to that part himself, with which the Superintendent had nothing to do, and he should take care he never should, and he discourteously added that in Russia his Honor would have been knouted and sent to Siberia for daring to construct such a balance sheet as he had produced. Mr Sheehan, M.H.R., and Mr Lusk, Provincial Secretary, both lawyers, humbly suggested that the action of the Russian Admiral was in contravention of the laws of war : but the Admiral remarked with somh bitterness that he did not come to 'dispute, but to command. Mr Creighton,'M.H. F?., preferred, as his contribution to the ransom, the secret for smelting our ironsand at one process, which he said would be a great boon to Russia; at the same time suggesting to the Superintendent that a polltax should be levied on the people of the Province to recoup himself and his partners for the sacrifice. Both proposals were instantly rejected, the Admiral scornfully remarking that Russia had long been in possession of the secret, and was only waiting until it was convenient to annex Norway and Sweden, in order to apply the discovery to Swedish iron. The next person interrogated happened to be Mr Swanson, M.H.R., who said he would consent to advance a large sum of money (less exchange), but was told that it would be taken from him with or without his consent. On behalf of the New National Bank, Mr W. S. Grabame and Mr Hean (the manager) said they were anxious to save the city from ruin, and offered to provide LOO,OOO, or one-tifth of tqe sum demanded, on the security of the English shareholders; but were sternly informed that, with such security to back them, they ought to provide double the sum. Mr Thos. Russell said the Bank of New Zealand was prepared to give L 50,000 ; but, on this sum being declared too little by a fifth, he agreed a - the suggestion of some of the other directors, to provide the other LIO,OOO. The representatives of the other banks were ordered to furnish their quota; and armed parties were told off, in charge of the bank managers, to ransack the cellars for the specie and gold dust they contained. Dur. tluir absence some one suggested that the old floating paper in Auckland and the mining scrip should be tendered as j>art of the ransom ; but the proposal was derided with scoru by the stern Russian. It was not a moment for mirth, but the suggestion brought a smile to many of the anxious faces°which looked upon the hard impassive face of this self-appointed judge. After the lapse of half-au-hour the detachments returned from the banks with all the gold and silver that could be found. It amounted to only L 131.098 17s fid, little more' than half the sum demanded. Admiral Herodskoff threatened the lives of the gentlemen who were before him, and at last gave orders to have them taken on board the Kaskowiski, stating that immediately after daybreak he would sail in pursuit of the Wonga Wonga, and if be overtook her and found sufficient gold on board, be should land his hostages at Fiji. He then rose ; the hostages were marched down stairs, and taken on*board the Kaskowiski The grief of the community it is unnecessary to parade. Deep as that is at the loss of our treasure, a far deeper pang is in each heart to think of the dishonor ttys affair Jim wwfe QA AJw wfow

flag and the British nation. Lord Granville promised to defend England’s Colonies with “England’s last ship and last shilling. Russia has taken both in Auckland waters From the depths of our despair we cry, “ Where is the British Navy ?” This narrative is acknowledged at its foot, and in the smallest possible type, as being taken from the Cross of May 15, 1873.