RUSSIA READY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 72, 17 March 1914, Page 3

RUSSIA READY.

TO WITHSTAND ATTACK.

RIDICULED IN GERMANY

A SENSATIONAL ARTICLE

ST. PETERSBURG, March 13. Tlie 'Bourse Gazette' publishes a sensational article claiming to express tlie vieirs held in the highest circles expressing tl w firmest confidence in- Russia's ability to withstand any attack. tire article adds, "Russia's defensive strategy is no longer passive," and eonAides, "Russia desires peace, but she is ready."

AX EFFICIENT ARMY. ST. PETERSBURG, -March 13. , in© semi-official 'bourse Gazette' in ] ts article states that the fortifications haTe been completed and the officers' standard raised. The artillerv in many "spwti e X ccl s that of France and Germ l, and other branches, including "iKion, are highly efficient. T , BERLIN, March 13. ine semi-official organ of the Gov6™umt, tho 'Norddeutscber Allege|«i« totulig,' ridicules the Russian wse Gazette's' threats and vtatea ;«. it does not believe that such disSS W,n dlsU,rb RusSo^e:raan ENTHUSIASM IN FRANCE. m . PAIUB, March 13. n»i • ssmn 'bourse Gazette's' firm f W w (iuthusiastically welcomed. It , tliiit the (Jennan menace has J* its terrors and that France's posi- , ' l >s much more secure than it was alels'ws ago. inlk 7? llis ' ( - tlu ' most important and » W,al 11;llH ., ;„ France)"stat« that tS nnwi K (,t nc ' <>f the idea that H »W inf." 1 ! the rSword . will caut,e ally I * ILL NorBE INTIMIDATED. 1 lief PKTERSmrRG, March 13. IMtolta;,! eivsl ' ;l P < -' I ' b unanimously refuse H *a t,nudatwl V Austro-Ger- ■ Ga£ S caffl l They recall that ■ w^sfe l sr i>lebyinci ' €asing I No c ßound7^~^ citement . I .11 sl T ' I T r i'; HSIU:HCi . March 13. ■ *■«' W ? a ' ()roi " M Minister) states M f Se itemeut IS t? sr "l lnd at P***** for ■ liet!r« en ß • le ''«'ations Che states) and Austria are exeel " ■ ugu twy "ere in 1913. H feat EuL' 5 * v ?'' a war between the S S» a comn^ a l' ! ? wer s 't will have to ■ hliei one , for no H ™ an <* a t ! ' ?n 1S in a position to m \ «iSr S T? g 2, le for more than ■ lta<l 6 and , llle '°ss resulting to ■ ?*Citi? m ? rce h Y a war ■ the aS 6nn ß' b "t apart from ■ 5.7 «* Si COSI ot v a »ymg on mil *- ■ E*.*«WlL °£ eratlon * on a huge ■ ***?£ sufficie »t to cripple in a ■ - ""' *» r«*wces of most of 'tin

European nations. The South African , war lasted 31 months and the & ISA <™ h ™ rlt i ?h <? OVern « wa ß ±-211,000,000 The direct cost to Japan I of the war with Russia, which lasted 19 month,, wa. £208,000,000. The Sen? Balkan war, which lasted 34 weeks, cost I m the aggregate £246,000,000. But , these figures, large as they are, would i soon be overshadowed by the cost of a , war between any of the great European 1 owers. It has been estimated that the average daily disbursements cf the six principal European Powers in time of I «oL wouU be as fo!low: Great Britain '£800,000; France, £1,800,000; Germany, £2,200,000; Russia, £2,250.000- | Austria-Hungary, £1,000,000; Italy' j £/50.000. Mr Edgar Crammond. in .quoting these figures in an address winch he delivered before the Aldershot Military Society, drew attention to the fact that although the financial preparation for war is second in import-- : anee only to the question of naval and military preparedness, it has been quite ignored by Great Britain. He urged that a war chest should be created; otherwise the Government would be compelled to go to the public for a great j war loan when the monev market was in a state of panic.