Eastern Troubles.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2071, 27 January 1898, Page 3

Eastern Troubles.

The aggressive action of Germany and Bußsia in China, and the evident perturbation which it is causing to Great Britain, have stirred up our local fireeaters. We are taking stock of our cartridges and munitions of war, and calculating how long they will last in case of emergency. It is not probable, in any case, that there would be anything more than a flying raid against any part of-Australia. Sydney might readily be bombarded, and a ransom extorted if the Colonial squadron could be coaxed out of the way. Meanwhile we are consoling ourselves with the reflection that it is unlikely that thb great Powers, who have armany troublesome European questions, will allow themselves to drift into war over Eastern matters. They will probably twist the British lipn’9 tail till he shows his teeth, and thTesfcagb, judging by the action taken at the Corea and at Fort Arthur, seems already to have been reached. MeanwhileWe are .anxiously waiting to hear from the mysterious Zsrroroff, who wanted '7OO tons of frozen beef to victual Viadivostock. The gentleman with the Bussian name, however, does not make any sign,.—“ Telegraph,” Tasmania.