RUSSIA'S FUTURE – TRANSFER OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY TO THE BLACK SEA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 24, 16 March 1878, Page 2

RUSSIA'S FUTURE - TRANSFER OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY TO THE BLACK SEA.

We understand, on the best authoriy, that the question is tinder discussion at St. Petersburg of transferring tlio naval power of Russia from the Northern .seas to Nicolftieft, Sebastopol or sonic other port in the south. For somo years past the authorities have fully recognised the difficulty of maintaining an efficient ironclad fleet at Cronstadt, which, for six months out of the twelve, is surrounded by ice, and they have only waited for tho ripening of the Eastern question to give the project serious consideration. The time is now felt to have come when the opening of the Dardanelles to the squadrons of Russia may be looked upon as a certainty, and two points will in consequence he brought under immediato discussion—the first an to the selection of tho harbor in the Black Sea, and tho second as to the extent that Cronstadt shall be I dismantled of its present exclusive naval power. A strong feeling exists in favor of restoring Sebastopol to its former colossal proportions, but on account of the ruins which oncurabcr the harbor and the liability of the Port to bo severed from tho main land many members of the St. Petersburg Admiralty regard the project with disfavor. At tl o same time the inconveniences of Nicolait ff are fully recognised, and both Odessa and Kertch are, so far as dockyards arc concerned, considered to'be altogether out of the question. An impression prevails that Sebastopol will l)e the port selected as tlio headquarters of the naval power in the south; that soma'point will bo chosen near the mouth of the Danube to answer the same purpose that Kartell does to the River Don, and that a strong Jiaval .station will bo established at Batoinn, the acquisition of which is regarded i:: olHcial quarters as being beyond doubt —" London Morning Apvaroiier." ■