RUSSIAN INVASION OF PORTSMOUTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 58, 8 March 1877, Page 4

RUSSIAN INVASION OF PORTSMOUTH.

(From the Morning Advertiser J) Por years past complaints have been made of the universal philanthropy of successive British Governments, who not only publish their costly experiments in ships, armour plates, guns, email arms, and other offensive and defensive appliances for the general benefit of all the world, but are specially careful to post up foreign military and naval experts in all such particulars as would otherwise remain secret, and thie even while the knowledge so communicated is reported to have been withheld from our own officers. In the Naval departments of the Great, Powers, especially Russis, Prussia, and the United States, there are charts and specifications containing description of our men-of-war, showing the thickness of lha armor-platfng on various parte of their hulls, acd the armaments they carry, and (he calibre and power of the guns. It is not necessary for Russia and other "friendly" Powers to have spies in this country to find out our military and naval strength, for onr generous Government is ready to forestall their investigations. But somehow or other — spies or not— they . seem to be in possession of information which our own people lack. A curious illustration of thie, which would be amußing if it were not so very serious a matter, is reported to have occurred at Portsmouth a day dr two ago. It appears, according to the account, (hat a number of Russian officers of high rank have been busily engaged at Portsmouth iv familiarising themselves with the system of guDuery instruction pursued at Easlney aad on board the Excellent. They were generally pleaßed with what they saw, They have clearly made good use of their opportunities, and taken more than a casual survey of what was going or;. Amongst other thinga they inspected the Boadicea, and before, leaving her, requested to be Bhown the new torpedo carriage. The attendant was not aware that the carriage had at the time been fitted on board, and expressed his doubt on the subject; but the Russian officers assured him that a carriage had been provided, and at once led the way to wSiere it was found. A company of Eusßian officers know, it seems, more about the details and arrangement of une of our vessels thau an Englishman 1 employed upon it. Russia happens to be the only Power in whose relations with ourselves there is what diplomatists call a decided '> tension." But were it Prussia, or France, or America that was preparing for .war with us, theie is little doubt, (hat naval and military experts from those Powers would soon insinuate themselves into

places like Portsmouth and Woolwich, and find out all about our strength and our weakness.