The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1904. WAR SCARES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 17 March 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1904. WAR SCARES.

The chief •■'scare' 1 writer in regard to t-he designs of Russia upon New Zealand is the gentleman who officiates in London as correspondent for Buveral of the leading colonial papers. Jn his latest comniiinicattion dated Feb. 5, and published iu the New Zealand Herald, this gentleman gives another of his "warnings" of what may iiapjieti if , Hut there, let the correspondent spenk for himself. Whether or not we believe what he says, or even attach the slightest importance whatever lo it, his coininunUlue in at any rate interesting just now. He writes: — "The Russian press has lost no time in warning England plainly that should she show any favour to Japan or afford any aid, -direct or indirect, Russia will immediately elTect a diversion which will give her (England) something else to think about than Jupansse interests. Thus it is declared thai in such case Russia will at once threaten India from the Pamirs, and will also employ her volunteer fleet among tbo Jlritish colonies. During tl*! past ducade 1 have often warned my New Zealand readers that a raid on New Zealand is among the earliest naval operations coulemplatod by Russia In the event of war with Britain. I trust that the Government and puople of New- Zealand will nover be misled by any Russian disclaimers on this head, for 1 know that the Russian »avu< authorities have in their possession tho fullest possible information about New Zealand, ;ts towns, ports, harbours, coasts and defences' and that plans of operation have been matured in the minutest detail lor ths execution of this long-favour-ed scheme. Russia has always recognised that the possession'of Nyw Zeaiand must of necessity mean the hegemony of (lie Paciiic, and, incase of war will make a prompt and desperate attempt to seize and occupy the "Britain of Hie South." Jl is realised that such an enterprise, if successful, would not only be highly beneficial in itself to Russian interests, but also would inllict a most damaging blow on British prestige. So, uccording to the programme of many years' standing, a sudden descant on New Zealand at the very outset of tho war—possibly beforu even any formal declaration of war should be issued—must bo counted on and adequately prepared for as a virtually foregone conclusion. This is no idle or unfounded warning. It may reasonably be asked. Why should England become involved so long as the struggle remains between Russia and Japan solely ? The answer is that, England is Japan's ally, ami there ure a thousand-und-one incidents that might easily occur, and any one of which would virtually force England to intervene. Hut tho rual danger lies in the extreme improbability of Russia and Japan being left, alone to light out their quarrel by themselves. There is, for instance, the strongest likelihood of Cliina casting in her lot with Japan. if might be thought that this would not matter much, seeing what manner of men and soldiers they proved themselves in their war with Japan. Hut apart from the vast and almost unimaginable possibilities latent, in a nation of some 100,000,000 people of great hut hitherto undeveloped capacilv, it must be remembered that China practically holds Russia's line of communication. At hundreds of points along the thousands of miles of flimsy, inefficient "jerry-built" railway which Russia has constructed through Siberia and Manchuria, and upon which she must depend for gelling her forces through to Port Arthur, any single Chinaman with a few pounds of -dynamite could completely interrupt the communicnl ion. It is indeed known that. ulreudy numerous points have been selected for operations of this cbarnclcr, and oven the men chosen for llie duly. That it would necessarily be a perilous and probably fatal one matters little to a Chinaman, who is a fatalist with no fear of death, and would go to his task with (he utmost sang froid and resolution. Such is the view held by military experts in this country, and in France also. They hold further that Russia would Ire almost compelled for self-protec-tion to take the strongest measures to prevent or discourage such Chinese proceedings, and that this must j inevitably precipitate a state of war

<bet|Woon Russia and China. According lo the view taken by the best authorities of the -obligations laid upon France by her alliance with Russia, Llie overt entrance of Cliina into the fray as an ally of Japan or as an enemy oi Russia would lay upon l-'runoe'lhe duty of coming; to Hi,' aid of lief ally against both China and Japan. Tin- entente between England and Prance is at present most close and friendly and pleasant, perhaps more no than at any previous period of the history of either nation ; still, an alliance is an alliance. England is J alum's ally. Thus if Franco should join Russia against Japan, England is bound by her treaty to come to Japan's aid against her allied Foes. In this way both l-Vance and England might (pdte conceivably be forced into an altitude of active hostility against one another, without, (here beingeven the shadow of a grievance between them, but purely through the ag'g-rcssive conduct of Russia toward ward a yellow nationality in the farthest oi Far E u st."