UNKNOWN

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1896, Page 3

UNKNOWN

There are.plenty of indications that Russia 'intends, if not to cbal e British anpremacy at sea, at least to become the second marine power. It ? Wftud ifcat her roWa have in theur minds a |aval prograjrmue beside which Mr Goachen?»propoßiii<»« with regard to theEneiiah navy will^how insignificantly. But it is recognised by the Press of. the Ciar'a reaSaibat warships alone are of comparatively little value ao long as Russia has no coaliia stations outside her own boundaries independent of other nation's control. The Ndvoe Vremya I .dwells upon the necessity of *^»mng 'stations in the Indjan and Pacihc Oceans, as the^EngJish and Japanese harbours whero the > Russian ■ snips at presentobtain coal mfy at any time become unavailable, And-poiato out that within easy reach ,ofc the northern ooast of Sumatra, nearly in the same latitude as the Straits of Malacca, is situated the Island of Pulo-Wai. which, although belonging-tb Holland, lies outride Dutch waters, ; According to the Novoe Vremya, that island has two good harbours, one to the 'north and one to the south, and a lake in its midst. It asks whether tins wonld not be a d«sirable coaling station Tor Russia. It remarks that the coal from Cardiff is good but expensive, Whereas that bought in Japan is of bad quality. A abort tune ago coal of good quality was discovered in Sonth Sumatra, whence Russian ships .at Palo- Wai could easily take their lapplyl The island of Palo- Wai is of little value to the Dutch, owing to the constant attacks of the Achinese. The cession of this small territory would not in any way damage the prestige of Holland, at least sa says the Novoe Yremya. - .'/.-'■•