VLADIVOSTOCK.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10215, 10 December 1898, Page 2

VLADIVOSTOCK.

Black and White. Vladivostock—the "Dominion of the East* ' —which has boon developed into a veritable Gibraltar by Russian engineers, is situated on the southernmost border of the Primorak provinces, which were stolon from the Manchuria kingdom by General Ignatioff in 1861. The story of the transfer of the region lying south of the Amur river and east of the Usuri, will bear tolling, serving, as it does, as an ■ admirable example of Russian methods. In the year 1860 China was invaded by the French and English bent on teaching the "son of heaven" a salutary lesson on the ad- ' visability of maintaining tho rights granted by previous treaties. The Western "barbarians" had forced their way to Pekin, which was for the first time entered by a foreign foe, and the mandarins were at their wit's ends for a means of saving tlioir face. It was while the negotiations for a new treaty were in progress that young Ignatieff—-he was not thirty at the time—arrived and joined his influence to that of the armies, who were for tho moment masters of the situation, for the bringing about peace. I_» mediately the negotiations had proved successful the young diplomatist interviewed tha • Chinese on liis own behalf, and demanded, in the name of the Czar, the immediate cession of the Usuri province—a territory na - large as Germany. China was taken aback,'*,*' but quite helpless. Fearing further wars I, with the outer Powers, she conceded what - was demanded, and the seaboard of Man-V churia"was promptly occupied by Russia, the), first place to be taken in hand being the fine > natural harbour between the bays of Amur '' and Possiet, which became named Vladi- , vostock, the frontier stronghold of the Rug* sian Pacific station. The place was admirably adapted both foe -' the purposes of a commercial harbour and a naval base. The base is nearly - well protected by surrounding heights, and of sufficient depth to permit the biggest battleships riding at anchor at any time of the year. The hills, which are largely cover* , ed with timber, affording "material for the construction of buildings and huts, are well suited for the needs of a settlement, and a good-sized town speedily grew up in what had previously been little better than a miserable fishing village." The harbour works were taken in hand ( ' by the ablest engineers, who were specially conveyed from St. Petersburg for the purSiose. Barracks were built, forts planned, ockyards constructed, and the surrounding heights provided with fortifications and ■- heavy guns. In a very few years Vladivostock becirme a fortress of the first class, v and with the additional defences subsequent- , ly added it has for some years been regarded ; ', as practically impregnable. The town of Yladivostock lies on the,;;. north shore of a,narrow bay extending some ; 1 two miles inland, having an average width / of about half a mile, on either side of the, J settlement, which is of goodly size and"in«V; eludes a population of 16,000 and a force of about 3000 men. Very large swnisl have been expended by the Russians on they ; : defences of the arsenal, which lies to the'J J east of the town, and no less than sir mil*;,;: lion roubles were spent on new and dockyard extensions five years ago.'.j The protection provided against attack frorifc "< 5 the sea is now very complete, and eight forts of .the first class placed on. the. M numerous headlands guarding the 1 af-vf proaches to the harbour, besides the block*'.» houses which surround the settlement. The*.;; barrack accommodation is very extensivey -,; and it is believed that from 35,000 t0.40,000-$ men,cbuld be concentrated on the spot the greatest ease. . ' v iV"^ The safeguarding of Vladivostock has ways been regarded as a, matter of the,ut*v;! most importance to the Russian Empire,'ana jr,; admission to the harbour is only permitted s under a number of stringent regulations. -■'_ One of these is interesting owing" to the' ,■;' circumstances which brought it into force.-;. Some ten years ago the Chinese squadron of" . the British fleet while on a cruise paid a>: visit to Vlaaivostock. The Russian fleet chance to be at sea, and the British v6ssw» \\ arrived during the prevalence of a sea fog ; which rendered them invisible from the shoroJi' When the fog lifted and the squadron Wi«.*~ discovered riding at anchor off the town,;; there was nearly a panic, as the visit walj. unexpected, and the port authorities thought;. f that war had broken out. They were *&%-' reassured, however; though the incident wad'»< duly considered, and in the result a regutt*- ;., tion was introduced forbidding more than; t two foreign men-of-war to enter the ha-boutf'.. at a time. , '•'< There is one fact that is riot generaJlJv, known in connection with the Rusaiw;; Pacific base. It has been frequently stated* and is generally behoved, that Vladivostock.-•-; is closed by the ice which' forms in the har* ■ bour during four months in the year. .This ..■ is not actually so, inasmuch as though water is undoubtedly covered witbvfce,,.. through the winter, it is not of great t__s-*V. ness, and by, the use of an ice-break&f ~ machine always kept at work, a channel tf.. kept open for the passage of battleships ot : ; cruisers. Notwithstanding this, the-plea of,,' the winter closure of the port was made the "r excuse for the recent seizure of Port Arthur, g in many respects a similar port, but south, and less affected by the seasons. ■■;' ;}f ; i The great importance of Vladivostock ajt| the .chief naval base of the Russian s_boM*M ', in the Far East came to an end this yeMtffg when the representatives of the C-arooctt^^ { pied the Liao-Tong peninsula. From the day* of its acquisition till the present, every nerve-; S haa Ijeen strained by those responsible to-; order to place the new harbour of refuge J»rg a position to defend itself, and so large,,*!,? . supply of men and munitions of war have,,w (been dispatched there that th,e place is -aK-'<j ■ ready practically as strong as its | further north, and it will ere long be far #p%ll 1 away the finest stronghold in the Far ( Despite the rapid development of Port £%.% thur, however, however, Vla_vost6cJe\| remains a most valuable factor in *wi| strength/ of' Russia in the. Easfef^ , Its harbour, though not perhaps as well P^jJ ' tected by nature as Port Arthur, is far largefi<| I and is generally recognised as one of - &&$* J finest in the world. The convenience bf.fl«!| 1 row-placed shores, as the site of s_py_dsj_'y ' stores, and dry docks, is superior to those^ afforded further south; and while ad a pureM^ strategic base- Vladivostock must now tafe>|^ a second rank, the facilities it affords for.t^ep equipment of ships remain unrivalled.. -^JJ&fS other marked advantage possessed by.Vlßaj*j| vestock is the excellent means of <»rmT»unica£f § tion afforded by the neighbouring rivers". bX{| means of which Lake Hinka. the Usuri, attf^p even the Amur may' be reached, thus ?JPjs&f 1 ing Tip a ready means of communication *«%§ the military -posts of Kliarboroffka and fty'm jovestchenck. The-trade-of Vadivostock.%l unimportant, consisting mostly of- tim °f f Kl which. i» exposed to Siberia. The poOTM tion is composed of Russian subjects, TOJ&MJi ' sprinkling of Germans, Coreans, and P^sflll