The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 30,1885. War News

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 135, 30 April 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 30,1885. War News

♦ — While the attention of the colonies has been particularly directed to the near probability- of a war with Russia, the idea of a possible quarrel with France has been lost sight of altogether. That astute politician, Mr Gladstone, while quietly submitting to the all round abuse of not only his political opponents, hut the still more irritating clamour of his friends and supporters, has had not only the Soudan war and the approaches of the Russians to the frontier of India to demand his close attention, but we now find that his Government has had to prepare against a possible foe from whom no open menace has yet been received. Mr Gladstone, when he asked for a vote of eleven millions, said that "the general situation of foreign affairs renders it incumbent upon Great Britain to prepare all her forces." France has almost made the suppression of a small newspaper called Bosphore Egyptienne a casus belli with the Egyptian Government, with the object of regaining her hold over Egypt, which she, lost by the blundering of her Ministers some time ago. A war with Egypt would mean a war with England, and that unpleasant knowledge may have a somewhat deterrent effect. But France will run some risk to have i her claims again admitted to a voice in the affairs of Egypt. It is well known that Bismarck looks upon a great European war as inevitable, and Germany would prefer seeing a war between France and England, which would involve other powers, in order to ! get a favourable opportunity for f orc-j ing a. general disarmament, in order that Germany may be relieved of the terrible burden she has to bear in keeping up expensive armies as a check upon France. This can only bo done after a murderous war when all the combatants would be orily too glad to consent, in order that the nations may recoup themselves during a protracted peace, when the expense of maintaining armies and fleets may be dispensed with. With Russia to fight on the land, and France on the ocean, England and her colonies would have their hands full. With Russia the fight would be short, sharp, and decisive, and the result never for a moment be uncertain. It would be a mere question of who had the longest purse. With a naval power like France war would be a much more serious matter, besides being more protracted. The damage which could be done to the British Coloniesjjis incalculable. Fortunately every day which is allowed to pass before war is declared is being profitably used to put the principal points open to attack in a state of defence, while the martial spirit of the colonials is forcing thousands oi able young men into the ranks of the several military branches of service, who are ready and in fact eager to risk life and limb in defence of their homes in the Pacific. But notwithstanding these as a means of defence, our mercantile fleets might be sunk and wrecked, and our coasts ravaged; possibly— nay, almost certainly — with heavy loss to the attacking force, but still the damage would be done. Should Russia consent to submit the Afghan question to arbitration, and England left free from danger in that quarter, France would certainly assume a more pacific tone towards Egypt, as she would not be anxious to cope with England single-handed. But England's need is the opportunity of both Russia and France, and they may both imagine by joining their forces to compel the British Lion to ultimately submit. Past history tells us how futile such attempts havty proved. The sons of England have shown no falling off from, the valour of their sires, on the fields of Egypt and the Soudan, and Russian or Frenchman will meet as hearty a welcome at the point of the bayonet now as in the days of yore. Where the whole, world failed 76 years ago, France and Russia cannot hope to succeed now.