THE PROBABILITIES OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1243, 1 March 1878, Page 3

THE PROBABILITIES OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

(From the Melbourne “Argus,” Feb. 18.) With war threatening between Great Britain and Russia, it is only natural that we should inquire what chance there is of the Australian ports being attacked in the erent of hostilities taking place. The enemy’s vessels, it is pretty certain, would not come from Russian waters, nor would they be heavily armed. If a descent were attempted, it would most probably be made by the Russian steamers now stationed in the Pacific, the China Seas, or the East Indies. Assuming that these vessels were free to move about as they pleased, considerable anxiety might be felt regarding them ; but things assume a different aspect when it is remembered that the British fleet in all these waters is sufficient to overawe the Russian naval force, and to greatly restrict the movements of unfriendly ships. A predatory expedition could scarcely set out for Australia from any of these places without the fact getting wind, when pursuit would of course take place, and the enemy would probably find, before he had finished, that he had made a mistake. The strength of the fleet which might be looked to for keeping the Russian vessels in check is very considerable. We notice from the “ Navy List ” that the ships of war stationed in the Pacific, in the China Seas, in the East Indies, and in Australia, number collectively not less than forty, carrying in the aggregate 296 guns. They vary in tonnage from about 500 tous to 6000 tons, and carry from 2 to 31 guns each. The British fleet in the China Seas, from which direction a Russian naval attack is most to be appreheaded, is very formidable. It includes several heavily-armed vessels and numerous swift gunboats, a perfect mosquito fleet, in fact, which would be very useful in intercepting a hostile expedition, or in conveying information of its whereabouts to the larger vessels of the squadron. While, therefore, Australia, to be safe, must be prepared for resistance if need be, it would appear as though the probability of her being called upon to defend her ports is not very great, as long, at least, as Great Britain has Russia only to deal with, and the naval resources of the two countries remain relatively the same. The following is a list of her Majesty’s ships stationed in the Pacific, the East Indies, China, and Australia: — « AUSTRALIA. Nymphs, screw sloop, 9 guns, 1574 tons. Sapphire, corvette, 14 guns, 1934 tons. Sappho, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Wolverene, corvette, 17 guns, 2431 tons. THE PACIFIC. Fantomc, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Opal composite corvette, 14 guns, 1864 tons. O prey, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1i24 tons. Penguin, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons/ Rocket, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Shah, iron screw frigate, cased with wood, 26 guns, 6040 tons. EAST INDIES. Arab, gun vessel, 4 guns, 700 tons. Flying Fish, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Lynx, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 581 tons. Rifleman, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Spartan, corvette, 12 guns, 1755 tons. Teazsr, gnu vessel, 4 guns, 581 tons. Undaunted, frigate, 31 guns, -1020 tons. Vestal, sloop, 9 guns, 1574 tons. Vulture, gun vessel 3 guns, 774 tons. Wild Swan, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1121 tons. CHINA. Audacious, double screw, armor-plated, 14 guns, 6034 tons. Charybdis, screw corvette, 17 guns, 2187 tons. Curlew, double screw gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Egeria, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Fly, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns. 584 tons. Fi’olic, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Growler, composite gun vessel, 4 gnus, 584 tous. Hart, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tous. Hornet, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 gnus, 684 tons, Juno, screw corvette, 8 guns, 2216 tons. Kestrel, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Lapwing, gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Lily, composite gun vessel, 3 guns, 700 tons. Magpie, double screw gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Midge, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Modcste, screw corvette, 14 guns, 1934 tons. Nassau, surveying vessel, 4 guns, Bi 7 tons. Silvia, surveying vessel, 4 guns, 87’ tons. Thistle, gun ve sel, 4 guns. 58-4 tons. Vigilant, despatch vessel, 2 guns, 985 tons. The Catholic Bishop of Auckland.— The Dunedin “Star ” is informed on reliable authority that Father Chareyre, who was nominated Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, has declined to accept the Episcopate. Bishop Moran left lately for Auckland to arrange matters as administrator of the diocese. A very big financial operation will take place early in 1879, and already the India Office are preparing for it. The largest, and, on the whole, most profitable railway in the world—the East Indian—from Calcutta to Jubbulpore in Central, and Delhi in Northern, India, will be for sale. That is, the first twenty-five years of its existence will have expired, when the Secretary of State has the option of taking it over at cost price. The capital is £30,500,000, and, thanks to George Turnbull, who made it, and the Marquis of Dalhousie, who planned it, the annual dividend has reached nearly 7 per cent,, while the working expenses are lower than on any other line.