Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1898. Navies in Eastern Waters.

Manawatu Herald, 22 March 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1898. Navies in Eastern Waters.

+. Out in the- colonies we have only learnt, in a general sort of way,, that if there is trouble between Great Britain and Russia, over China, the Japanese will be on our side. We have also been informed that the Japs taking advantage of the season and the reason have floated a loan of six million pounds on the London money market. The difficulties connected with reaching the eastern coast of China by land makes it almost a certainty that a contest will be fought, if ever fought, on the sea and therefore the relative strength of the navies now represented there must be of great interest. From reliable sources we find that on the 30th January last Japan had two first-class battleships which were built in England and are more than a match, so far as their speed and armament are concerned, for any ship in Chinese waters. She has another fins vessel which she captured from the Chinese. Th°n she has four armoured cruisers. eleven protected cruiser.*, Wi<lc>s others building, aud one of these ships, built in England has a f pad of 23 knots, and the others vary from 15 to 20 knots. Japan has also eleven unprotected cruisers, mostly vessels from 1,000 to 1,800 tons having a speed of from 12 to 20 knots. Then there are 14 gunboats i and other vessels, as well as a powerful torpedo flotilla, comprising ono catcher and about 40 firsWjlass torpedo boats. The British fleet in Chinese waters numbers 28 vessels in addition to torpedo boats, made up aa follows : — The basfcle-ship Ceuturion, Commerce Destroyer Powerful, coast defence ship Wivern, 5 first-class cruisers, 3 second-class cruisers, 8 sloops, 1 despatch vessel, 7 gunboats, 4 destroyers, a store and a receiving ship, and 6 first-class torpedo boats. We have thus in these two navies 4 battleships, 1 Commerce, 1 Coast* defence ship, 85 cruisers, 21 gunboats, 5 destroyers, and 46 torpedo boats, united against the naval power of Russia, France, and Germany, who have only 13 cruisers and 2 battleships in the Eastern sea. We have pointed out that coal is really of as much consequence as powder, and the chief depot for Great Britain is at Hong Kong. This port is very far south of the seat of pro bable war, the . Corean peninsula, but hero our allies the Japanese again become most useful, as the coast 3of their country abounds in magnificent harbours, many of which are supplied with dry docks and every appliance for repairing disabled ships. Coal can also be obtained there. The only port the French possess is at Saigon, further south than the English base, and to get there her vessels would have to pass Great Britain's base at Hoog Kong. Germany has a naval station in Kiao Chau Bay which they have recently seized from China. Russia has a port at Vladivostock and has occupied Port Arthur. The former port is closed with ice from December to April, but is said to be fitted with all repairing plant and dry docks and is also very strongly fortified. A glance at the map will show the Vladivostok, even if open all the year round is terribly hemmed in by the Corean peninsula and Japan which leaves only the narrow Corea Straits as a passage way to it. During war time it would appear an inexpensive matter to shut every Russian vessel north of these Straits, in the Sea of Japan with only an occupation to bombard the western coast of friends. It must also be remembered that the cause of any war with Russia would be the objection of Great Britain to that country seizing any portion of China, and therefore we should have the Chinese on our side as well as the conveniences of shelter at any of their ports, besides provisions for the fleet. These facts are as well known to the Russians as they are to us, and each move they make is similar to that of skaters on thin ice, very ticklish, and more to feel how far they dare go, than with every intention of going whoever may object. The resolute bearing of the British Government will save China and avert war, \

At the annul banquet of the associated Chambers of Commerce, Lord Koseberry re gretted the illness of Lord Salisbury, whom he complimented for his " matchless experience of foreign affairs and high spirit of patriotism." This will bo read with sorry by the Prohibitionists. Dr Martin remarked at the Medical Congress that he had observed that chronic drunkards were rarely caught by the influnza epidemic ; the moderate drinker was not severely attacked ; but the rank teetotaller supplied the bulk of the patients who suffered most severely. Madame Albani is a Canadian ; her real name was La Jeunesse (she is now the wife of Mr Gye), and she adopted the Albani from that of her birth-place, Albany. Madame Melba is also a subject of her Majesty, being an Australian by birth. She sang in London at first under her real name of Mrs Armstrong, but was advised to adopt a more foreign-sounding cognomen; so, following the example of, Albani, she called herself after her native city, Melbourne, with a slight change in th« termination.

Seizing the opportunity. Owing to America's good feeling towards Britian, Sir Julian Pauncefote, British Ambassador, is pressing the arbitration scheme on the attention of the authorities. Extraordinary qualities are possessed by the Biver Tmto, in Spain. 15 hardens and petrifies the sand of its bed, and if a stone falls in the stream and alights upon another, in a few months they unite and become one atone. Fish cannot live in its waters. Poster dances are the latest invention of the most artistic of the New York " Four Hundred." Every guest has to be dressed as one of the posters which adorn the vacant places of New York hoardings ; and as Mr James Ik Breese, whose wife is the leader of the artistic set, is directing them, it ia anticipated that they will havo a great voguo in consequence of the originality and pictaresqueness of the idea. Not quite enough. Sixty thousand Mussulmans in Crete have intimated to the Sultan that they refuse to accept Prince George of Greece aa Governor of the island. Mifi3 Stuckey of Levin, was presented With a silver sugar basin and cream jug on Saturday by the Church of England choir, on the eve of her marriage. Mr Brown presented the gift and an address, and Mr Walter Stuokey replied on behalf of his sister. The condemned man Philpott is to be hanged to-morrow. It is said that his bravado has gone, and ha has given way to abject fear. At a meeting of the Manawatu Rowing Club on Saturday night Mr McUc-rmott was elected Secretary, <uv.l Mr Ov rend a trustee in the pi ice of Mr Eure who has left ihu town. A vo!e of thank-i was passed lo fi • la 1 ...t g.u liaj..'. i'jt his s ivic 8 to :h." club. Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a stock sale at IVraerston on Thursday and one ai, Levin oa Fr diy. Whatever may be tho. reason prompting the sender, whether it is his ivgr t at the notable want of punctua iy oa ilia p.vrt of school clocks, or dread -that our Sohool teachers may inadvertently !« a^ked to give more of their va inble tr-:io to the State than has been con'r.v; c 1 ror, it remains anyhow a faot liut the school commit're h s received an instrument styled tho " lime Finder " which tha sender trusts t:.e committee will purchase. We undeiotnrid that the head teacher is being consulted ai to whether it is ad« visiabe to incur the outlay. The case of Thomas Rran r^ainsi W. 0. Fitzgerald for unskilful teatmeut was concluded on Saturday the jury, without leaving their benches, having returned a verdict for the defendant. A certificate for a second day's sitting and for second counsel was also given. The expenses will thus be very heavy. The Btandart says that the appointment of Prince George of Greece as Governor of Crete is virtually assured. Certainly the most effective medicine in the world is Sanders and foil's Euoalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in Coughs, Colds, Influenza ; the relief instantaneous. In serious cases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldinga, bruises," sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swellings — no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronchitis, Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, Ac., Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organs. In use at all hospitals and medical clinics ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and eject all others. — [advt.] To The Deaf and those troubled with Noises in the Head or other Aural Troubles. Dr Nicholson, of London, tho world famed Aural Specialist and inventor of Artificial Ear Drums, has just issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive book on Deafness and Aural Troubles. This book may be had from Mr Colin Campbell, 160, Adelaide Road, Wellington, N.Z. Mr Campbell was cured of hi? deafness by Dr Nicholson's system, and takes pleasure in spreading the news of the great specialist in New Zealand. A little boook on the cure of Rheumatism Corpulence, Lumbago, and Indigestion by tho same author may be had from Mr Campbell, also free.