NEWS BY CABLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2897, 12 May 1888, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

London, May 9. The St. James's Gazette complains of tlio extraordinary strength of Russian naval forces in the Pacific, and the weakness of England there. The article goes on to say that in the event of an engagement between British and Russian ironclads in the Pacific, the defeat of the British China Squadron could only be averted by a miracle. A large fleet will assemble at Plymouth to celebrate the tercentenary of the Spanish Armada on tbe 10th May. The deputation of members of Parliament who waited upon Mr E. Stanhope, the Secretary of State for the War Department, urged that the country should be placed in a proper state of defence. Mr Stanhope, in replying, said the country had confidence in Lord Wolseley and MajorGeneral Sir Eedvers Buller, who were paying close attention to the matter. A sufficient sum had, he said, been placed on the Estimates to carry out the defence of ihe ports and coaling stations. The defences of the leading mercantile ports were almost complete as intended, and he thought that an attack on London by means of the Thames was impossible. The scheme for mobilising the army was being proceeded with, and rapidly approaching completion. The Government depended to a great extent upon the patriotism and intelligence of the Volunteer Force. Their numbers were adequate for defensive purposes, and danger was only to bfi apprehended from the incompleteness of the preparations for war, which he appealed to the members themselves to remedy by making suitable provision for all emergencies. Mr Stanhope has said there is no occasion for a panic in connection with the defences of British coaling stations, but it was urgent that immediate action should be taken in the matter. IJe admitted that it was possible to accelerate the progress of their defence.

Washington, May 10. The Senate has ratified the Ameri-can-Chinese Treaty, excluding Chinese laborers from the United States for a period of 20 years. London, May 9. Lord Kmttsford has informally assured Sir Graham Berry, the AgentGeneral for Victoria, that the anxiety of the colonies as to the influx of Chinese is justified, but he desires to satisfy himself that the requests of the colonial Governments are within the obligations of - the existing treaty between England and China. The Autwerp wool auctions opened yesterday with great animation. The prices show an advance of five centimes on the closing rates in January. Of the 18,400 bales available, 850 are from Australia.