The FEilding Star. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1888. War News

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 119, 8 May 1888, Page 2

The FEilding Star. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1888. War News

+ The cablbs from Europe on the situation are far from re-assuring to those who are desirous of enjoying a prolonged peace. Russia appears to be determined to keep up a strong fleet of warships in the Pacific Ocean, and we are informed two fast cruisers will shortly be despatched to Vladivostock, raising the squadron there to the number of twenty. A later telegram says Russian troops are advancing on the Turkish and Asiatic frontier, and ; Russian agents are endeavoring to j create trouble in Bosnia and Herzegovina, A serious collision is reported to have occurred between the Turks, Greeks, and Servians, at Monastir, which may be of considerable significance, as Monastir is a town (population 15,000) of European Turkey, in Macedonia, and is the principal entrepot for merchandise passing from Albania into Rouraelia. We hold the opinion that Russia is firmly determined for a general war as soon ao she can strengthen herself by an alliance with another European Power. What that power may be is indicated in her intriguing with France against Italy. The latter course of action has created great distrust in Germany, where the press is denouncing both powers, while expressing the strongest feelings of sympathy towards England. Should haired of Italy and Germany induce France to ally herself with Russia, the doubtful peace which now obtains may be ruptured at any moment on the merest pretext. With a powerful Russian fleet in the Pacific within' twenty days easy steam of us, and a French fleet in the Atlantic and I Mediteranean to occupy the attention , I of the British fleet, the outlook is not j • too pleasaut for us. It has been said I j many of the Australian seaport towns, I especially Sydney and Melbourne, are in a state of defence, a statement

which we devoutly hope will be ] proved true should the hour oC trial | come, hut no uiau has said any of the . seaport towns of this Colony are pre- j pared in any respect whatever. Heaps , of money have been spent we know, but the amount of real work done is , practically nil. What oue Ministry has commenced, another has discontinued, while the unfortunate taxpayer or money-lender has to bear the brunt. For ten years — more or less, we have been preparing for an. attack, yet we have not ten guns in position nor a hundred men who would know how to use them when the hour of need comes. As for ammunition — I it goes without saying the order sent Home for that was "countermanded" by the Ministry which did not send for it. We hope the present Ministry will • not allow the question of Chine3e immigration to interfere more than is necessary with their duties, and that they will have five minutes to spare for the consideration of the defences of the colony.