RUMORED RUSSIAN PREPARATION OF FAST CRUISERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 532, 11 June 1878, Page 2

RUMORED RUSSIAN PREPARATION OF FAST CRUISERS.

The New York Herald makes the following remarks regarding the Oimbria ;—The arrival of the steamer Cimbria on the coast of Maine with a large company of officers and seamen here, when taken in connection with the rumoured preparation of fist cruisers fcr the destruction of British commerce on the high si-as is an event of uncommon interest. Whether the detachment represent the avant garde of the large force which we Imve been repeatedly informed is to man .steamers to he purchased and equipped in American .waters by the Bussiau Government, or is merely a party sent out to create a scare, and thus influence British diplomacy is n >t yet known. According to the terms ot the Treaty of Washington we cannot permit our harbours to be made the basis of operations against Great Britain, but there is nothing to prevent the Russians ov any other prospective belligerent from sending unarmed bodies of men to this country even for ulterior purposes, as" long as a state of peace. exists* Should war be declared to-morrow, and before the Cimbria leaves American waters, our Government could not prevent her departure on the ground that the men she carries may lie employed for naval warfare in regions outside our jurisdiction any more than it could prevent passengers from-leaving on an Austrian steamer for Liverpool, who were undoubtedly belongiug* to the British

navy. If the passengers of the Cimbria are to man Russian cruisers in the Atlantic, they will join their ship or shi ( >s at ether than a United States port, and may now he waiting instractions as to the point or points where they can do so. Their preface indicates in any case that Russia is not disposed to accord to England undisputed sovereignty Jof the seas, and that the latter pswer is likely to experience com-merci-il losses, and dangers si niiLir to tlmse we suffered from when the Alabam* and Shenandoah, laigely manned by English, subjects, were bunting and' sinking in the chops of the Channel. It is to he supposed that the Russian Governnient is too well acquainted with our intentions and obligations of neturality to do anything that would involve our honour. Certain it is that any such attempt would not succeed, as our gold will not fail to exercise " due diligence" in maintaining neutrality.