THE RUSSIANS IN EASTERN ASIA.

Kumara Times, Issue 1103, 13 April 1880, Page 3

THE RUSSIANS IN EASTERN ASIA.

The removal of the Russian naval arsenal in the Pacific Ocean from Vlaclivostock to St. Olga’s Bay (remarks the Pall Mall Gazette) gives another hint to the importance which the Russians attach to the ocean as the sphere of future operations in war time. The large sum spent in the construction of works at the former point are to be thrown away, and St. Olga’s Bay is rendered, as far as possible, impregnable ; another warning to us that we on our side not to run any risk of being taken by surprise in that quarter. Even when the Cornua arrives on the China station our fleet will be still very weak, and we should never forget that the Japanese ironclads might be turned against us at a critical time. Reasonable risks must of course be run; we cannot expect to secure absolutely evei'y corner of our vast Empire. But, when we are told as plainly as action taken over a long period of time can tell us that the Russians, in the event of any serious complications with us, mean to do all in their power to cripple our trade in the China Seas, and to stop our grain ships from San Francisco, to refuse to take adequate precautions is to court disaster. People are too apt to forget what would be the effect a serious reverse even at so remote a point as Hong Kong—the disturbance of trade, the flutter of panic, the loss of prestige in China and Japan. All this, too, apart from the injury inflicted on the grain ships on the other side of the ocean.