TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8172, 3 July 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

A practical step towards increasing the supply of British seamen for British ships was formerly inaugurated on board the sailing ship Port Jackson, in the South West India Dock last month. The occasion was one of exceptional interest, as the Marine Sooiety was adventuring on an experiment that promises to be of great value to tbe<shipping industry' which has long had to lament the necessity of employing foreigners iu what traditionally an essentially Erifish occupation. Thanks to the efforts of the Marine Society, the Port Jackson is journeying to Australia as the first British mercantile sea-going training ship for foreuustle hands. She will make an orduary training voyage to Sydney, and will carry 100 boys from the training shin Warspite, who will learn the duties of ordinary seamen. On their return, after a nine months' voyage, which will give them an introduction to the sea under most favorable ooudltions,tbey should lie a welcome acquisition to fhe mercantile marine.

In a despatch received by the Government from Downing Street, the Secretary of State for the Colonies advises that, in view of tho difficulty experi'noed in establishing the nationality of the claimants when the British claims reaently came op for examination before th* Venezuelan Claims Oomunission, it had been decided by his Majesty's Government to oujounga as ia:joh as possible the practice of registration at British consulates abroad, and more especially in the esse of British subjects resorting to Ceisrrn.l aud South Ame' ruts. The Sucretary had also suggested the dpsiruliUty of posting public notices at the various ports of emigration in the West Indies or other places in which it might seem advisable, impressing upon all emigrants of British nationality the advisability of having themselves registered at a British consulate on the earliest opportunity after arrival at their destination, and warning them agaiust the difficulties which their failure to do so may entail.

Tidings have been received in New Zealand from the Northern Division of British New Guinea regarding the departure of the Albert Edward expedition, under Sir Wbitmore Monckton, of New Zealand. This is evidently the long-projected attempt to cross the continent:} and come out through German territory, as it mentions tbat a range 13,000 ft high will have to be negotiated is practicable. Little is likely to be heard of tho exploring jinrfcy un ler two months from date of tho start, but, if successful, when the news is publisher!, as a camera forms part of the equipment, tbe public should' have the opportunity of seeing depicted Arctic scenes in tho midst of a tropical country. Sir William Maogregor's account of his former expedition to Mr Scratohley painted a woeful picture .of the sufferings of his party at a height 3,030 ft lower than that about to be attempted, and it is quite possible, if no firewood is obtainable, tbat the gallant effort may be frustrated through the natives being unable to endure the extreme cold. The result is looked forward to with great interest, especially as regards its scientific aspects.

A French newspaper published in Noumea, oalls attention to the increasing uotivity of Germany to develop its oommeroe not only with Australia, but throughout the islands o! tbe Paoiflo. The writer anticipates trouble before long in uonsequenoe cf the manner in whioh Germany is carrying out its work. Special referenoe is made to the way in which it seeks to extend its trade with Australia, and complaint is made that whilst it expects to enjoy alt the "ad vantages of trade in Commonwealth ports it denies equal rights to British vessels visiting tbe islands under German control. It will appear from the article that Germany has long cast envious eyes upon the New Hebrides.

It is said that the good understanding existing between England aud France has prevented an attempt which had it succeeded would have made the New Hebrides a second Morocco. The Germans of Samoa, it is alleged, plotted to dispute with the French the ownership of the land, surrounding the magnificent Bay of Port Sandwich (Mallioolo), the most coveted corner of the archipelago. Happily, says the writer, the efforts of the , AngloFrench Commission, which met in Loudon last February, have ren- ' dered German interference in the New Hebrides impossible. But it is added that the greai question of the twentieth century will be the division of Oceania. A cable message last week stated that General Rennekamp considers that a war of revenge against Japan is imminent. Jn view of this it is interesting to note that General Basohenow, of the Russian General Shff, recently wrote a short memorial on the probability of a second war in the near future between litissia and Japan. "The second war between Japan and Russia cannot be postponed for more than six years," he said, "the islanders being unlikely to wait till 1925, when Russia will have gathered a new army. Japan will utilise to the utmost Great Britain's obligations towards her to force Russia's hand, her aim being to destroy Muscovite influence in the basin of the Pacific, and to strengthen the position she has acquired in Korea an 3 Manchuria. The Peace of Portsmouth is, therefore, nothing but an indefinite truoe. There remains one clear duty for Russia to perform, namely, to fortify herself in the Far East against all contingencies, and notwithstanding the proteats of the Japanese. The second Japanese war is not far away behind the mountains; it is already upon our shoulders, and if we be not prepared this time, the enemy will drive us over the Balkans."