The Feilding Star. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18, 1893.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 94, 18 October 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18, 1893.

The Arming of the Nations «, The mighty fuss the nations of France and Russia are making over each other at the present juncture would be ridiculous if it were not fraught with menace to the peace of Europe. Both arc apparently actuated by the same motives and spirit. The French Government has ordered the construction of three ironclads, the armaments of which are to be formidable and unique, while the Russian Government is also building ironclads on the shores of the Black Sea. The Italian Government has accepted the position, and is now ready for war, while England may be said to be also in a state of preparedness, because her Government has iv course of construction, to be completed in the year 1894, niue battle ships, and three others have been ordered, while of tho class of fightiug ships described as cruisers, there are niue first class and twenty second class, either on the point of launching or to be completed next year. Those facts imply that a naval war of unusual magnitude is looked forward to by the powers mentioned. Of course the great object of France or Kuttsia iv the event of a general European war would be the capture or destruction of the mercantile fleet of Great Britain, and the English Government is perfectly aware of that design, and will spare neither blood nor ireasuru to frustrate it. In the old days England managed to hold her own wheu nearly all the nations of the earth were in arms against her, and to maintain her proud position of mistress of the seas. It is true that' the sad loss of the battleship Victory, by misadventure, has shaken the faith of the natioD ia the value of the ironclad fleet as a reliable means of offence and defence, but, on the other hand, they have the consolation of knowing that if their battleships are of dangoiously faulty construction, those of France and Russia are certainly equally weak. John Bull, although dull iv many things, is, however, very quick to perceive when his pocket is threatened. The loss of the Victory has proved to a demonstration that what was the fate of that unlucky ship in peace would most likely be the destiny of many others of these costly ships in the course of an engagement at sea in the event of a war. Recognising that contingency it is not too much to expect that the ships now in course of construction will be so planned as to make them capable of resisting, or escaping, collision with friend or foe. We aie aware that Lord Brassey, who in a recognised authority on these subjects, has expressed the opinion that these huge ironclads are a mistake, but that opinion was only made public after the loss of the Victory. Some years ago we ventured to express the belief that they would not answer their purpose, and said that ironclad ships would go out of fashion just the same as armour clad soldiers in battle have become things of the past, and that idea seems to be a correct one. To damage an enemy's commerce, and prevent the introduction of supplies into threatened seaports, being the recognised chief objects of a naval war, swift cruisers would, undoubtedly, be the best adapted for tho achievement of that object. In the event of war privateers would unquestionably be fitted out, of this description, which would do more damage to commerce than the most cumbrous and expensive ironclad that ever was floated. In conclusion, we express the hope, although we fear it is but a vain one, that if there is any real casu* belli between, the Great Powers, that it be submitted to arbitration, and if possible the difference be amicably adjusted. An European war at the present time would bo ruinous to the colonies.