THE RUSSIAN FLEET.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 130, 4 June 1877, Page 4

THE RUSSIAN FLEET.

A VIBIT TO THE VESSELS OF THE CZAR AT MARE ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO. Ever since vessel after vessel of the Russian fleet, stationed in the Pacific and in Chinese waters began to reudezVotis at San Francisco, speculation: has been rife as to the object of this concentration. Several papers have affected to see in the movement a danger, in case of war, to the British possessions on the Pacific, while others ridiculed the idea of any auch movement being attempted by such a feeble force. Considering, however, that so many war vessels of a foreign Power were in our harbor, says the San Francisco Evening Post, but little reliable information aa to the strength of the fleet, its personnel, or its object, baa reached the public op to the present time. In order to throw some light on the subject, a representative of the Post was detailed the other day to visit the vessels at Mare Island and obtain ail the information possible as to their condition and object.- Subjoined is his report:—The Russian vessels, six in number, lie over near Mare Island, and in order to visit them the writer crossed ; over to the Navy Yard in the ferry boat. They are cix in number, viz., the Bayah v, flagship oi the Rear-Admiral Pousino, commanding the Russian fleet io the i Pacific, carrying 8 guns, and having a displacement of 1950 tone; the Vsadnik,6 guns, displacement 1203; the Abek, sister ship; the Teungouss, 4 guns, displacement 466- tons; the Ermak, sister ship; and the Yostock, 4 light guos, displacement 300 tons. more are expected to arrive daily from Vladievoatock, where vessels of the fleet in Japanese and Chinese waters are directed to call for orders. All those vessels have been, or are in course of repair at the Navy Yard, with the exception of those which went into dry dock at San Francisco. Arrived at the yard, the Post representative was introdnced by naval cootractor Munds to the Captain of the Toungouea, who treated him most kicdly, and furnished all the in formation it. .was in his power to afford, in addition to inviting him to visit the vessel, which is undergoing extensive repairs. She is to have a new deck put in her which will run flush fore and aft. At present her after cabins are on the upper deck, she having a raised quarter-deck after the old style. On visiting the vessel she was found in the natural state of confusion inseparable from the work going on, but as far as could be judged, the discipline was as good as as on board American or British war vessel a. The Toungoues carries four rifled guns, but ot' very light calibre, the heaviest being a 7 ia. breech-loader, bhe is anything but a formidable craft, although from the fact that she is iron, people might draw quite a contrary inference. She is iron only in the sense that the City of Pekin is iron,— that is, her hull is formed of iron plates from J to § thick, which heavy guns would penetrate quite as easily as wood, and with this difference that you cannot plug the hole in the side of an iron ship as you Can in the side of a wooden one. The Russian Bailors are fine-looking fellows, and differ little in outward appearance from the British tar, indeed they resemble them more than they do American Jack. There is no doubt of one thing, and that is, that the Russian sailor is remarkably clean ard Bailor like; he walks wide between the legs, jußt as convicts freah from ball and chain exercise are wont to do. So little was to be seen save workmen from Vallejo, Russian officers trying to carry on the duty of dismantling their vessels amid a din of hammers, dust, and dirt, that a visit was paid to the flag-ship Bayahu, of about 2000 tone. She is full ebip rigged, and is very like the United States steamer Benicia in appearance. Her armament consists of eight rifled guns, and she has, officers and meo, a crew of about 350. The first thing noticeable to a naval man on stepping on her deck was the absence of marines. The sailors do all the marine work tbemaelvts, and the saying so common among the ters in the English-speaking services, "A messmate before a shipmate, a shipmate before a stranger, a stranger before a dog, but a dog before a soldier," ia without point in the Russian navy. Pussin^ along the deck, the light meial carried by the Bayahu strikes the attention at once. On inquiry, we learned that there was not one ship in the Uuasiau Pacific fleet that carried larger guua

than 7-inch breech-loaders. The appearance of the vessel below and aloft was similar to that of a well-kept American war ship. The officers of the fleet, with whom the writer conversed, appeared to be all very intelligent men, well up in their profession. Tbeir uniform differs from that of American and British officers in the rank, being marked by shoulder straps and stars alone, the galon being absent. There is no distinction between the line and staff officers, owing to the peculiar system of educating cadets for the navy. Every cadet has to undergo a certain college course which is laid down. He is examined at intervals, and the bent of his mind carefully observed. If be appears likely to make s better doctor than a sailing master, he is, malgre bongre, obliged to follow a meiical course or leave the service. If an engineer, he , must embrace that branch of, the service, and give up all idea of ever shouting, " Mainsail haul," or whatever the Russian equivalent may be, during his natural life. Some of the higher grade officers speak English very well, and all of them speak French and German. The uniform of the petty officers is very pretty, and they all appear to be a very superior class of men.