THE PROBABILITIES OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2826, 6 March 1878, Page 3

THE PROBABILITIES OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

With war threatening between Great Britain and Eussia, says the Melbourne

Argus, it is only natural that wo should inquire what chance there is of the Australian ports being attacked in the event of hostilities hiking place. The enemy's vessels, it is pretty certain, would not come from Kussian waters, nor would they be heavily armed. If a descent were attempted, it would most probably , be made by the Bussinn steamers now ■tationed in the Pacific, tho China Seas, or the East Indies. Assuming o that these vessels were free to move about as they pleased, considerable anxiety might- be f«-lt regarding them; but things assume a different aspect when it is remembered that the British fleet in all these waters is sufficient to overawe tho Russian naval forcf, and to greatly restrict the movementsof unfriendly ships. A predatory expedition could scarcely set out for Australia from aDy of these places without the fact getting wind, when pursuit would of course take place, and the enemy would probably find, before he had finished that lie had made a mistake. The strength of the fleet which might bo looked to for keeping the Russian vessels in check is rery considerable. We notice from the Navy List that the ships of war stationed in tbe Pacific, in the China Seas, iv (he -•iSgst Indies, and in Australia, number effectively riot less than'4o, carrying in the aggregate 296 guns. They vary in tonnage from about 500 tons to 6000 tons, and carry from two to 31 guns each. The British fleet in the China- Seas. from which direction a Russian naval attack is most to be apprehended, is very formidable. It includes several heavilyarmed ressels and numerous swift gunboats, a perfect mosquito fleet, in fact, which would bo very useful in intercepting a hostile expedition, or in conveying information of its whereabouts to the larger vessels of the squadron. While, therefore, Australia, to be safe must be prepared for resistance if need be, it would appear as though the probability of her being called upon to defend her ports is not very great, as long, at least, as Great Britain has Russia only to deal with, and the naval resources of the two countries remain relatively the same. The following is a list of Her Majesty's ships stationed in the Pacific, tho East Indies, China, and Australia :-— , JiUSTBAIIA. Nymphe, screw sloop, 9 guns, 1574 tons. Sapphire, corvette, 14 guns, 1934 tons. Sappho, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Wolverine, corvette, 17 guns, 2431 tons. the pacific. Fantome, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 •tons. Opal, composite corvette, 14 guns, 1864 tons. ' Osprey, composite Bloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons. Penguin, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons. Eocket, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 684 tons. Shah, iron screw frigale, cased with wood, 26 guns, 6040 tons. EAST 1ND1133. Arab, gun vessel, 4 guns, 700 tons. Flying Fish, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Lynx, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. ■ . ■ :: Rifleman, composite gnn vessel, 4 guns, 692 tons. Spartan, corvette, 12 guns, 1755 tons. Teßzer, gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. TJn-launted, frigate, 31 guns, 4020 tons. Vestal, sloop, 9 guns, 1575 tons. Vulture, £un vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Wild Swan, composite sloop, 6 guns, 1124 tons. CHINA. Audacious, double screw, armor-plated, 14 guns, 6034 tons. Charybdijj, screw corvette, 17 guns, 2187 tons. Curlew, double screw gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons, i. ■ Egeria, composite sloop, 4 guns, 894 tons. Fly, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guna, 584 tons. Frolic, double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 692 tons. Growler, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 684 tons. ' ', ' ' . ", ■ Hart, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Hornet,* double screw composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Juna, screw corvette, 8 guns, 2216 tons. Kestrel, composite gun vessel, 4 guns, 592 tons. Lapwing, gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Lily, composite gun vessel, 3 guns, 700 tons. Magpie, double screw gun vessel, 3 guns, 774 tons. Midge, composite, gun vessel, 4 guns, 58.4 tons. Modeste, screw corvette, 14 guns, 1934 tons. Nassau, surveying vessel, 4 guns, 877 tons. Sylvia, surveying vessel, 4 guns, 877 tons. " Thistle, gun vessel, 4 guns, 584 tons. Vigilant, despatch vessel, 2 guna, 985 tons.—Herald.