The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1887. War News

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 104, 10 March 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1887. War News

T. . ' . The .hppes of peace in Europe raised in the minds of many people by the Marquis of. Salisbury, are not likely to be realised. Speaking at a banquet in London on Saturday last, in referring to the; aspect of affairs in Europe, he declared the outlook had recently much improved, "and that in spite of the increased; armaments which were being earned on by the Continental Powers, the prospects of peace were j greater than had. been the case for some time. From the high position the speaker occupies, and his opportunities of possessing the best inf pr- , mation on European politics and diplomacy, his utterances necessarily are received with respect and confidence. It would, however, appear that he either did not know, or if he did know, did not think it judicious to tell, of the movements of the Russian Government. Be that as it may, later telegrams have ' inf ormed us that' Power has issued a circular note to the other Great Powers, intimating that the Russian' Empire intends resuming freedom of action in European affairs. It is also stated a note has been sent by Russia; to the Porte, demanding payment of the war indemnity. This is a new chapter in "the Russian question: It means that Russia is*"n ow free from all ties created by the Treaty of Paris or the Treaty of Berlin. This is really throwing down the gauntlet to all the nations of Europe. -The demand for the payment of the war indemnify by Turkey, is tantamount to a declaration that unless the latter country can pay— and Russia knows perfectly well" that Turkey cannot comply with this demand— she wiU take possession of Turkish territory as compensation. The first step of a Russian soldier ih the direction of Constantinople wiU compel . England to declare war to defend her highway to India. For Ourselves in the South Seas, the great risk is that the utter abrogation t>f the Treaty of Paris wiU allow swarms pf privateers to pray upon our commerce, to the comparative ruin of our mercantile navy. The history of the Alabama would be repeated at our cost, in a hundred cases. Vessels can be fitted out and manned in Russian ports in the North Pacific, which could run down to the coasts ef Australia or New Zealand in fifteen or sixteen days. That the Government will be prepared to meet attacks on our ports we have no doubt, but the fleet of H.M. warships in Australasian waters would be miserably inefficent to protect the merchant steamers from attack by extirpating the cruisers of the enemy. In conclusion we regret to observe that instead of war being far distant and peace assured, the dread event is approaching with rapid and certain steps.