THE RUSSIAN FLEET IN THE PACIFIC.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 162, 4 September 1880, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN FLEET IN THE PACIFIC.

The hostile relations existing between China and Russia have called into prominence the naval force possessed by the latter Power in the Pacific, and although a rery large number of conflicting statements have been put forth in regard to its strength and contemplated reinl'orce■tentK, we do not find it difficult, from Russian sources, to determine its actual proportions. For Ihe sake of convenience ■we may divide tho Hoot into three sections vessels already in tho Pacific, vessels on their way thither from different [.arts of the world, nnd vessels designated to procoed to Vladivostok from Cronstudt before the close of the summer. Wo heard some days ago ot tho existence of a report at Cronstadt to the effect that the Russian Government contemplated despatching the powerful ironclad frigate Peter the Great to the Pacific. Nothing further lias reached us yet on that point, and for the sake of preserving a clear estimate of the naval power which Russia may bo expected to possess in the Pacific, in the event of an early war with China, we will omit that vessel from our calculation!. A» at present' constituted, the Russian aquudrou on the Pacific station is so feevlo that it ii not to be wondered at that the Imperial Government should have maintained a discreet attitude towards the Chinese. Last summer two vessels of the squadron, the Bayan and the Vsadnik, were relieved by the Kreutzer and Djigit, aud returned home to Cronstadt. Early this year it was decided to send home the Kreutzor, the engines of that clipper having become inefficient during her three years' cruise; and as we write this the vessel is steaming towards Russia through the Mediterranean. The return of the Kreutzer left tho Pacific squadron composed of the clippeis Djigit and Abrek, four schooners (one of which is a sailing vessel), seven transports, six steamers, and nine small cutters. Besides these there were two gunboats, the Gornasti and Nerpa, s'tationed at Tien-Tsiu. These two craft were constructed at Vladivostock in 1878, and were sent to Chinese waters to replace the Morj and Sobol, huth of whiah were so worn out that they were barely able to return to the headquarters of the Pacific fleet. Omitting the Djigit and Abrek, the twenty-six craft which we have mentioned do not really deserve to be regarded as constituting a naval force, and although not furnished with suitable weapons, they might serve, on a pinch, as gunboats and torpedo cutters. Still, there are such strong reasons for believing that most of them are defective in hull and decrepit in the matter of machinery, (hat it is presumable .that they would! hardly serve to dofend tho harbour of Vladivostock, to say nothing of a cruise against the Chinese ironclad fleet. Thus, «t the present moment, Russia possesses no real naval strength in the Pacific ; and it i» largely to this circumstance thai she ascribes the bellicose attitude of her Celestial neighbour of the Flowery Land. However, on their way to China are a number of vessels which will very shortly »ltor this disagreeable state of affairs. These are the frigate Meuin and cruiser Asia, which a few days ago were nt Singapore: niul the corvettes Naczdnik and liaziboiuik, timed to reach the Pacific by tho beginning of June. Tbe Minin was originally built as a rigged turret ship on Captain Cole's principle. Ilor length is 2'JBft.; beam, -49 ft. ; and displacement 5(530 tons. In consequence of the Captain catastrophe sho was altered to Mr. E. J. Reed's central battery system. She has now a central citadel 98ft. long aud I Oft. above the water-line, protected by 12in. plates worked on to 24in. of teak barking. The armament consists of four 28-ton guns, mounted in pairs on two turn-tables tin the main deck, and fired en liirheilt over the top of the battery. According fo all acounts the Minin is a most formidable ship, and far superior to the Iron Duke, the only British ironclad on the China atation. The crew of tho Minin is 5015 all told, and the frigate is provided with three torpedo cutters —the Naliiii, Nirok, aud Orel—with apparatus for discharging Whitehead torpedoes. The Asia is ono nf tho Atlantic cruisers purchased in America in 1878 at a cost of 270,000 dollars. She is a vessel 275 ft. long, steaming at the rato of twelve knots an liour, and carrying coal for thirty-five days, nnd having an armament of three 6-in. rifled guns on revolving platforms, four U-pounders, and lour mitraelleurs, bolides ono or two howitzers for dropping ahclls on the unprotected decks of armourclads. The Asia is also woll provided with torpedo boats and torpedoes, and is an excellont specimen of a typo of cruiser intended primarily to prey on tho enemy's mercantile, marine. Tho Naezdnik and UazbomflrWong to n class of eorvottocruisors/of w'Tiioh Russia has constructed no lets th'an eight since 1875. They arc ■vessels of 1385 tons, nnd 17i!0 indicated home-power, have- compound engines, nnd average « speed of thirteon knots por hour. Theirarmameutconsistsof three (Sin. pivot breechloading guns of the ICrupp description, and four broadside guns of ten con-timi-Ires calibre. Both carry a complement of 180 officers nnd men, aud are furnished with the latest improvements in torpedoes. The Kaiiboinik is built of iron and sheathed with six inches of timber to about one foot above the water line; tho Naofdnik is a composite-built ship. During their stay at Portsmouth some time ago thoir oxeellent equipment and design and their j'oneral ollicionoy wero the theme of all who saw them. On thoir arrival in Chinese waters Russia, for the first time for many years, will have a really "rtieient and powerful squadron in the Pacific—JJome New* 17 June.