New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4965, 20 February 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1877.

Some of the most recent items of news from Europe transmitted by the telegraphic cable, had reference to a revival of the practice of privateering by Russia, in case cf a war between her and England. The name of America was mixed up with this matter, and how the whole question has arisen may be learned from an article which appeared in the United Service Gazette oh December 16th. The subject is one of very great interest to the colonies, and in not the smallest degree to New Zealand, seeing that it involves apprehensions, in case of England being involved in war,, of a most destructive raid upon the extensive shipping traffic carried on between this colony and the mother country. It would seem, from' what is stated in the Gazette , that the feeling of Russia and the Russian people is altogether in favor of endeavoring to cripple the commerce of England in case of war. The Russian Press, it seems, and the correspondents of English papers unite in saying that large sums of private money are ready for the purchase and equipment of privateers in different parts of the world. Of course the Declaration of Paris, as it is called, agreed that in case, of future wars privateering was not to be practised, but Russian honesty in respect to treaties or international declarations is synonymous with Punic faith, j There can be, little doubt but that; her preparations for privateering, orj for what would-be tantamount to it, ini case of ah 'outbreak of hostilities with' Great, Britain,' are very complete. During j the recent premonitions of war with Turkey, finding , that her Mediterranean ; squadron would be quite < powerless to: cope with that of the Sultan, and would simply be an easy capture should England declare against her, the vessels were sent; to America, which, in case of war, would bo aneutral country. The United Service ; Gazette points out that whilst one motive' for sending this squadron to' America might be to ensure its safety, another: might be to have it in readiness ( for a swoop upon British merchantmen at sea. According to our English contemporary, the Russian, ships of war, while in the waters of the United States, need not .have on board their full complement of officers and men: to ensure their safety in those neutral. waters. Other and more effective work i would be ready to their hands in the event of war. The electric cable would j no sooner have conveyed the news of hostilities between the two countries having been proclaimed, than the scheme which has been fully organised would be; put into force, which is nothing more nor less than the manning of a fleet of privateers with officers and men from the Russian squadron. The Russian Admiral, with the power conferred upon him of issuing letters of marque, would thus be able to act almost instantane-’ onsly, and before even a sufficient number, of English men-of-.war could be collected. upon the station; ,a terrible commercial! blow would,have,been struck at English; commerce. It is useless to talk of the f neutrality of the United States and of i neutral ports. A fleet, of Russian Ala- 1 bamas would bo abroad and. at work.

The first intimation of the fact tvould be the English merchant vessels sent ini as prizes. It will have been noticed that a telegraphic message, published mixed up America in what then seemed a rather unaccountable manner with the apprehensions by England of Russian privateering. The circumstances just detailed, however, fully account for the connection, and as privateers would be quickly dotted over the high seas on the pretty well defined tracks which British commerce takes, no wonder need be caused at the evident excitement which now prevails in the United Kingdom in reference to the issue of letters of marque. But, as the Gazette points out, a Russian Admiral and squadron in an American port is not the only cause for apprehension. On the shores of Eastern Asia and the North Pacific Ocean are ports of which the outside world knows little indeed. Our Home contemporary states decisively that in each of _ these ports it will be found that Russia has vessels fully armed and equipped, of great sailing power, that could keep the sea fpr months, ready on a declaration of war to launch forth uponßritish commerce. With these and with the vessels in American ports, the force on board which could in a few days be dispersed on board vessels already selected for service as privateers, it will be seen what a blow at English commerce could be struck by Russia. As for the ability of England to meet this blow and intercept it, that the United Service Gazette simply derides. It is true thata clipper corvette now on the South East Coast of America might do good service in cruising about the Horn. As the Gazette says ; —‘ ‘We must, however, remember her behavior on her passage to Kerguelen with the members of the Transit of Yenus Expedition., She drowned all her live stocks, including bullocks. Her men could not stand upon her decks, and to 'cast loose a gun would have been sheer madness and destruction. In the same weather a small iron storeship proved herself an excellent sea boat. What would be the fate of even a Volage under such circumstances, with a heavilyarmed Russian privateer hanging about her ! ”