PREPARING FOR PEACE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 138, 5 August 1876, Page 3

PREPARING FOR PEACE.

Enooand is determined to be on the right side when the looked-for intcrnali mil war di.es at last break out. The latest move in the direction of the preservation of peace is given in the “ Scotsman” by their London correspondent.—l have heard a good story which I here tell yon. lam assured it is perfectly true. It is that the authorities of the Admiralty have devised and partially executed a scheme for immediately converting the vessels of our great steamship companies into gunboats, in the event of war breaking out in Europe or America. As soon as war is proclaimed, if so deplorable an event should occur, the great ocean steamers at London, Liverpool, Southamption, Glasgow, and other 1 o ts, will be suddenly rendered useless for commercial purposes; but they will at once be fitted up with guns and sent to carry on hostilities against the enemy, the existing crews being retained, and augmented if necessary by sailors from our meu-of-war ; while three or four officers of the Royal Navy will be appointed to asssumo the command in each ship. In this manner economy ns well as efficiency will, it is boasted, be secured. If lam rightly informed, this scheme docs not exist merely on paper, or in the brain of departmental officials. Already naval officers of experience have actually been employed to survey the large steamers at our principal sea-ports, and elaborate reports have been sent to the Admiralty with reference to the number of guns and men which these ships are capable of carrying. In a word, the scheme is ripe for execution to-morrow 7 , if war should ho declared by any power against Great Britain,