The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 119, 22 May 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1877.

The London Spectator, in an article on "The strength and weakness of Russia," says:— " Without entering into very' doubtful calculations as to the number of her ships, or the skill of her sailors, ifc is certain that the Russian fleet is not directed inthe spirit thafc ensures success, and is for all permanent purposes very badly distributed. Too much of it, probably from consideration of climate, is always hovering about the mouth of the Amoor and the coasts of the Far East, where ifc could do nothing except worry Australia." This may be very comforting to the home readers of the Spectator, but to dwellers in Australasia it is suggestive of something more than "worry." To very many amongst us it conveys the prospect of utter and absolute ruin, only to be averted by an English naval force, sufficiently strong to place a check on the worrying process no philosophically spoken of, being stationed in these waters. The Melbourne Argus has taken the trouble to ascertain some particulars regarding the number and whereabouts of the British Avar vessels in these waters, and fears that the information received will not tend to reassure those who regard the possibility of a visit from the Muscovite with anything but pleasure. The list is as follows:— Wolverine, s.s., 17 guns, 1700 tons, at present in New Zealand; Sapphire, ss 14 guns, 1400 tons, New Zealand; Nymphe, s.s., 5 guns, 1084 tons, West Australia; Sappho, s.s., 4 guns, 727 tons, cruising; Beagle, schooner, 1 gun, 120 tons, Sydney; Alacrity, schooner, 1 gun, 120 tons, cruising; Sandfly, schooner, I gun, 120 tons, cruising; Renard, schooner, I gun, 120 tons, cruising; Conflict;, schooner, 1 gun, 120 tons, cruising. "If these vessels were concentrated," says the Aw, " we fear that they would not be able to afford any very effectual protection to the colonies in the event of an enemy appearing in anything like force. Four comparatively small ships, carrying 44 guns, none of which, we believe, are of great calibre, could not be regarded as a very formidable squadron for the defence of these scattered provinces, even if they were all within call; but scattered as they are between West Australia, on the one hand, and Auckland or Samoa on the other, they have virtually no existence for us, except in name We presume that the Imperial Government, having had the possibility of war in view for a long time, has not overlooked the necessity of strengthening its forces iu the Pacific and Southern Oceans; but we must confess that, looking at the magnitude of the interests at ! stake, both on shore and afloat, we should be glad to know tljat the Commodore had a far larger force actually at his disposal,"