The Globe. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1341, 1 June 1878, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1878.

Now that the Congress has been fixed to meet on tho 11th instant, it by no means follows that all danger of war is over, although it possibly affords the likeliest opportunity of avoiding a rupture. Tho delay, however, has we believe been favorable to the cause of peace. So long ago as April last, tho Bora correspondent of tho Times wrote that delay was distinctly to the disadvantage of Russia, “and she cannot take any stop calculated to strengthen her position in tho face of England without committing what would amouut to an act of hostility towards Turkey.” A statomout of England’s military position as it was at tho date of tho departure of tho last mail, and what it was a few mouths previously, will show how true tho above assertion is. When the treaty of San Stofano was being signed, and when to all appearance England was about to bo plunged into war with Russia, our military position was far from satisfactory. “We had practically

unlimited resources,” says tlio Times, “ and a population, which, though not military, is undoubtedly as warlike as any in tho world. Our resources were, however, in an inchoate state, our troops, though of high quality, were merely unconnected fragments of an army, and, in short, we were hardly ready for a war even with tho Caffros. Not a few foreign statesmen considered that the opinion of England on international matters might without risk he disregarded. A few weeks have effected a transformation which may|ho almost termed dramatic.” Into the details of how this change has been brought about it would be out of place for us to enter, hut we may briefly state the conclusion arrived at by the Times on April 12 th last, after a careful- survey of the position. “On tho whole,” says the writer, “ the success of the recent efforts of the military authorities has surpassed our most sanguine anticipations, and whereas at the commencement of tho year we could not have placed a single division complot© in the field, we could now, throe months later, despatch a corps (V armee to any part of the woi’ld, we shall be able six weeks later to send a second, and by tho Ist of July a third, without auy straining of our resources, without exhausting all our reserves, and without denuding our garrisons. Recruits are coming forward in abundance, and though few of these will he able within tho next six months to enter on a campaign, they will he perfectly qualified for garrison duty, and will take tho place of older and trained soldiers required for a first reserve. Many of the Volunteers are anxious to he employed. The Militia have shown their traditional good spirit, and several corps have already expressed their readiness to undertake duties outside the kingdom. Moreover, the precaution has boon taken of ordering the embodiment of several corps. The Indian transports are held in readiness for work near home, a magnificent steamer has been added to our fleet of troopships, and provisional contracts have been made with shipowners. Considering that wo have the command of tho sea, the fact that wo could within throe months, or oven a shorter time if necessary, despatch from our shores a mobile army of upwards of 100,000 men in the highest state of efficiency, is a fact tho significance of which cannot fail to be appreciated in Europe. Foreign armies are in these days sometimes thrice as largo, hut there are few nations in Europe which could afford to despise 100,000 British troops capable of being placed exactly at tho spot from which they could advance with the greatest chances of success on an opponent’s lines of communication or scattered divisions. Tho faculty of shifting our base and moving at pleasure by sea at least doubles the military power of England.” There are few of our readers who will peruse the above statement without a glow of satisfaction and pride. If a permanent and honourable peace is tho result of the approaching Congress, Europe will have to thank tho firm attitude taken by Great Britain for it, Tho longer actual hostilities are averted, the better it will be for England and the worse for Russia. This preparing for the struggle will no doubt cost the country something, but it will do good instead of harm. With Russia it is different. She cannot keep up the present immense strain upon her resources much longer, and each day adds to the difficulty of her present position. The delay in the meeting of the Congress is all to the advantage of England, and, let us hope, the cause of peace. The views of our representative will receive far more consideration than they would have done a few months ago, when our foreign policy was guided by the hesitating and wavering hand of Earl Derby, and when wo were unable to back our opinion by auy show of military force.

The Christchurch Ministerial organ contains an important announcement this morning on the subject of the defence of the colony. Our contemporary is in a position to state that the Colonial Government have ordered eleven 64-pounder rifled gnus and eleven 7-ton guns, and that they are now on their way out, with suitable ammunition and necessary fittings. Regarding small arms, our contemporary has authority for stating “that the Government lias in stock 5000 Suydors of the ordinary, and 2000 of tho shorter pattern, which, with another thousand of the former now ordered, will soon give the colony a total of 8000 Snyder rifles. For these there are in stock 2,000,000 rounds of ball cartridge, for the ordinary rifles, and a larger proportion for tho carbines. Some of this stock has only recently arrived, having been ordered by the Government shortly after taking office. In addition to the Snyders, tho Government can muster 13,000 Eufield rifles aud a largo quantity of suitable ammunition, making a total of 21,000 rifles at their disposal,” Tho same authority also informs us that “ the Government have under their consideration a plan of torpedo defence, which will probably be undertaken. The intention of tho Government is, as soon as war is declared, to bring down a few Armed Constabulary men to each port as the nucleus of a force of artillery, to place the naval aud artillery volunteers on a satisfactory footing, and to consider the question of enrolling the militia, probably with the advice of Parliament.” The above information will be a pleasant surprise to many, who have felt deeply humiliated at the apparent apathy of the Government on tho subject of defence. But now that the gnus are on the way, wo hope immediate preparations will be made for mounting them, as soon as they arrive in tho colony. Had common prudence been exercised, wo might by this time have been thoroughly prepared against attack instead of being utterly defenceless. Before this mouth has ended, tho question of peace or war will in all probability bo decided, aud if wo are to be plunged into war, what position will wo ho in, in spite of the fact that twentytwo guns have boon ordered ?

The election of two auditors for the city of Christchurch commenced this morning. Tho Returning Officer, under a misapprehension, allowed cumulative voting up to about mid day, when his attention was directed to tho fact that, in an election for auditors, each burgess has only one vote. Have not tho whole proceedings been rendered void?.