The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 802, 15 April 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871.

Although the colonial press generally has discredited the report reyarding a rumoured American filibustering expedition, there really is nothing of an improbable character in connection with the matter. "We do not suppose that any armaments would proceed for the purpose of attacking the cities of Australia as that would necessitate the employment of a larger force than could be organized with the necessary speed and secrecy, but there are no insurmountable obstacles in the way of equipping a small expedition which could fol low ou the track of homeward bound Australian and New Zealan d vessels. The fact that our gold ships nearly all go by way of Cape Horn, that tbey are utterly unprotected, and that their cargoes are of great value and easily convertible is, one would imagine, sufficient to excite the cupidity of a small band of lawless and desperate adventurers. When we consider that not less than a million sterling value in gold alone is shipped monthly from thbse colonies, under circumstances that would render their capture a matter of no ordinary difficulty, it would be in the last degree imprudent to attach but trifling importance to the warning received from the Secretary of State. The Victorian Government have asked the British Government for a war steamer, to cruise off Western Australia, to protect the homeward-bound mail steamers, in case such an expedition has set out, a caution rendering the probability greater that filibustering operations would be confined to the route between New Zealand and Cape Horn. We do not wish to raise an unnecessary cry of alarm, but it must be borne in mind that filibustering expeditions have been already often organized in America, and that the social condition of a portion of the population since the disbanding of the large military forces engaged iD the great civil war renders it highly probable that any expedition, promising such enormous booty, would be eagerly sought after by the numberless adventurers who throng the various centres of population. Statistics prove that of late years the mercantile marine of the

States has decreased to a very large extent, resulting necessarily in a number of seamen being thrown out of employment. These would supply crews for an expedition of greater magnitude than would be required for a few months' successful cruising in the South Pacific for the purpose of waylaying homeward-bound vessels, so that thero would be little difficulty in getting together a band of bucaniers for the plundering of our gold ships. The mere rumour of such a danger is likely to affect very materially the trade of this colony ; and it will very likely result, for a time at least, iu a large portion of the traffic both in produce and passengers being forwarded, for greater security, by way of Cape Leuwin and the Suez Canal. Victoria has already, we fiud, taken precautionary measures to pro tect her commerce, and, in the case of New Zealand, there exists a not less necessity to request the assistance of the Imperial Government. The new Californian mail service certainly commences under auspices most unfavourable to its competition with the Suez line, if its vessels are to be subjected to the risk of falling in with bands of piratical adventurers from the ports on the western coast of America.