The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1885. Prospects of Peace

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 131, 21 April 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1885. Prospects of Peace

By recent telegrams we learn that the probability of a war with Russia is not so assured as it was a week ago. That message . which states stocks are rising is a strong indication of peaceful council being in the ascendant in the court of the Muscovite. According to the Daily Telegraph's Vienna correspondent, the Czar considers that "war would be deplorable." This discovery does not appear to have been made until he learned that England was not only, ready but desirous of bringing the question of the Afghan frontier to the issue of a war. Although the Russian tyrant may declare Mb objections to a war with England, yet the action of General Komaeoff, who, when Penjdeh and the posts in the neighborhood were evacuated by the Afghan*, and the latter fled to Herat, deemed it expedient to place Penjdeh under temporary Russian administration, appears somewhat different from what his master would endeavor to persuade England were his actual intentions and wishes. This act is an actual treading on the heels of the defeated Afghans, whose advanced posts were so wantonly forced into a battle a few days before, and who suffered a defeat from the overwhelming army of the Russians. The whole secret of the outward desire for peace on the part of Russia is the want of money — the sinews of war. The power behind the throne, in the shape of money lenders, has shown no sign that the necessary funds to carry out an expensive and unprofitable war would be forthcoming, especially as the security to be offered is that of Russian bonds, the value of which is at present almost an unknown quantity, as many unfortunate English investors know to their cost. To make successful progress in the direction of the conquest of India, Russia wants time. The vigor of the British Government, the preparedness of the whole English population of the world for a war with Russia, with the willingness of the warlike hords of India to bring their forces to aid in driving the invader back from their frontiers, has surely taught that grasping power that the day has not yet come when it may hope to drive the English out of their vast possessions in Hindostan. Time is what we in the Colonies want, in order to be prepared to defend ourselves when "the hour of need" comes, as it inevitably will, and we hope that the opportunity given by a year or two of peace will be eagerly grasped to do all that is in our power to enable us to act an honorable part in the bloody drama which will be played when Russia and England are at war on land and sea. That Russia will rapidly push on her military settlements in the direction of India is to be expected, and the advantage these will be to her in war will be considerable. But the English will not be idle on their part. Railways and roads will be made, by which masses of troops and supplies can be placed in the field in Afghanistan in comparatively a few hours, so that Russia will be m much checkmated in two years as the is now. In conclusion, we can only congratulate ourselves on the breathing time that is likely to be allowed before we have to fight, and hope the desirableness of constant attention to all those arts of war which enable a nation to command peace will be continually before our rulers and governors, so that a foreign foe will be chary of making a direct attack on the English in the Pacific,