"Puff” on Peace.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 76, 6 December 1887, Page 4

"Puff” on Peace.

Cryiug " Peace ” when there is no peace! All the sovereigns and statesmen in Europe in their public speeches say peace is assured, but they don’t act as if they thought so! It fs reported that 150,000 Russian troops are massed in Poland beyond the ordinary force' Whv, under ordinary circumstances, Poland's like a big camp, it’s so full of soldiers, and an addition of 150,000 looks very serious ’ Germany is urging Holland and Belgium to act in concert with the triple alliance I That looks as if she anticipated war! But what have Holland and Belgium to do with it ? Not much directly! But if they remain neutral, they’d be very awkwardly. situated between the great conflicting Powers, whereas they conld be a great help to the alliance by their access to the sea! It is said that the English fleet will co-operate with the alliance on certain conditionsl I don’t quite understand that! If Great Britain were to give the alliance the benefit of her naval strength at all, Barely that would be equivalent to joining them against Kussia, and Russia would treat it accordingly ! No, it’s just possible that Great Britain might undertake to employ her fleet in protecting commerce, in the interests of all nations, without entering into any hostilities! It would be a very delicate position, all the same!

Very, I should say I Suppose a Russian cruiser were to capture a German steamer, and a British man-of-war were to come up and spiflicate the cruiser and release the German, would that not be an act of war ? I fancy it would! Especially if the cruiser fought back, and a desperate naval engagement took place between the British and the Russians It.s rather interesting to notice how Germany and Russia are both courting the assistance of Great Britain! Yes, indeed! They know well enough whichever side gets Great Britan for an ally, is bound to win ! Her naval supremacy and her unlimited command of money, make her irresistible in the long run ! I should think she’d much better keep out of the scrimmage and attend to her own own affairs ! That depends! She might make enemies of both sides, and be compelled in the end to defend her own possessions single-handed!