THE PROBABILITIES OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 53, 2 March 1878, Page 4

THE PROBABILITIES OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

"(From the Melbourno Argus, 13th inst ) With war threatening between Great Britain and Russia, it is only natural that we should inquire wha*. chance there is of tha Australian porta being attacked in the event of hostilities taking place. The enemy's vessels, it is petty certain, woull not com? from Russian waters, nor would tbcy be heavily jjarmed. If a deticent were attempted, it would raos l probably ho made by the Russian steams rs now stationed iv the Pu-'iflc, the Cbina Sea*-, or tha East Indies. Assuming that these vessels wore free to move about as thoy pleased, considerable anxiety might bo felt regarding thorn; but things a,33*itn. a different asp.-ct when it is remembered thut the British flaet in alt these waters is suflicient to overawe the Russian naval force, and to greatly restrict the movements of unfriendly ships. A predatory expedition could scarcely set out for Australia from any of these pUce. without tbe fact getting wind, when pursuit wouid of course take place, and the enemy would probably find, before he had finiahed, that he had made a mistake. Tho strength of the fleet which might be looked to for keeping lhe Russian vessels iv check i. very considerable. We notice from the "Navy List " that the ships of war stationed in the Pacific, in the China Se S s, in the East ludies, and in Aussralia, number collectively not less than forty, carrying in the aggregate 296 guns. They vary in tonage from about 600 tons fo 6000 tons, and carry from 2 to 31 ruub each. The British fleet in the China Sees, from which direction a Russian nnv*.l attack is most to ba apprehended, is very formidable. It includes ssverul heavily-armed vessels and numerous swift gunboats, a perfect mosquito fleet, in fact, which would be very use- * ful in intercepting a hostile expedition or iv conveying information of its whereabouts to the larger vessels of the squadron. While, therefore, Australia, to be safe, must be prepared for resistance if need be, it would appear as though the probability of being called upon to defend her ports is not very great, as long, at least, as Great Britain has Russia only to deal with, and the naval resources of tha two countries remain relatively the same. The following is a list of her Majesty's ship's stationed in the Pacific, the East ladies, China, and Australia :— ■ Atjstealia.it.— Ny raphe, screw sloop, 9 guns, 157_j tons, Sapphire, corvette, 14* guns, 1934 tons, r-a'ppho, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Wolverene, corvette, 17 guns, 2431 tons, The Pacific — Fantotne, composite sloop, 4 guns, 594 tons. Opii, composite corvette, 14 guns, 1864 tons. Osprey, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons. Penguin, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons. Rocket, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Shah, iron screw frigate, cased with wood, 26 guns, 6010 tous. bAST Indies. — Arab, gun vessel, 4 guns, 700 tons. Plying Pish, composite sloop, 4 guna, 894 tons. Lynx, composite gun vessel. 4 guns, "584 tous, Rifleman, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Spartan, corvette, 12 guns, 1755 tons. Teazer, gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Undaunted, frigate, 31 guns, 4020 tons. Vestal, sloop, 9 guns 1574 tons. Vulture, gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. "Wild Swan, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons. China — Audacious, double screw, armor-piated, 14 guns, 6034 (ons. Cuarybdis, screw corvette, 17 guns, 2187 tons. Curlew, double screw gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Egeria, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons, Ply, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 554 tons. Prolic, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Growler, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Hart, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Homer, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Juno, screw corvette, 8 guns, 2216 tous. Kestrel, compo-ite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Lapwing, gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 ton 3. Lily, composite gun vessel, 3 guns, 700 tons. Magpie, double screw gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Midge, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Modeste, screw corvette, 14 guvs, 1934 tons. Nassau, surveying vessel, 4 guns, 877 tons, Sylvia, surveying vessel, 4 guns, 877 tons. Thistle, gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Vigilant, despatch vessel, 2 gun 3, 985 tons.