WHERE THE WAR WOULD COMMENCE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 42, 20 July 1878, Page 3

WHERE THE WAR WOULD COMMENCE.

(New York Sun.)

We naturally think of an Anglo-Rus-sian war as one 3000 miles away : yet its first gun might he tired on our own border. It is almost certain, says the Broad Arrow, a good naval authority, that in the event of war Esquimault would be one of the first points attacked. Now, Esquimault is on Vancouver's Island. Its impoAance comes from its being the only British naval yard on the Eastern slum; of the Pacific. The loss of Vancouver's Island would, according to the authority just cited, be the loss of almost the whole of the British trade with the Pacific ports of the American continent. Thus a Russian attack on the island would be justified by both its strategic and its commercial value. A few weeks ago a Russian man-of-war, the Craysser, Captain Nazimoff, threw the authorities of Esquimault into a panic by steaming into the harbour. Fortunately H.B.M. corvette Opal, 14 guns, was also there and sent a boat forthwith to see if the visitor's intents were wicked or charitable. It was found that the Craysser had put in for repairs on her way from San Francisco to Sitka. But the fright proved a wholesome one. Since then batteries have been erected commanding the entrances of Esquimault and Victoria harbours, three companies of volunteer artillery have been enrolled to man them anil it has been suggested that at least one British ironclad should be sent to the station.