Vladivostock.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7844, 23 May 1904, Page 5

Vladivostock.

By ANGUS HAMILTONI in Pall Mall

Gazette.

The extraordinary dash which characterises v.iie Japanese forces may, any day, threaten the safety of that wonderful fortress on thePaoific. I believe that a literal translation of the name given tha tHJe Sovereign of the Bast to the place upon which the Russians have lavished millions and millions of roubles. Vladivostock is pre-eminently a fortress. The interests of the Army and Navy centre there, and around the fortunes of these two services the place has aprucg up. It is also the chief town of East biberla—in fact, it may be said to be the most important seat of Banian influence in the Par Bast. It Is so much more, formidable than Port Arthur, so much more magnificent than Daloy, so much larger than Khabarovsk, and it possesses such an admirable harbour, that it is not surprising that tho Russians regard the town and its surrounding as the hub of Greater Russia in the East.

The town is situated on the slopes of a high ridge forming a tapering peninsula which projects into an irregular land-locked bay. The entranco is commanded by Rus3ia Island, where there is an important fort, and innumerable small islets, on which, too, the scheme of the fortifications is also carried out. Again, round the cresta of the land-locked harbour, stretching for miles to the eastward and known -as the Golden Horn, there are other continuous ohains of earthworks and defensive positions. The lofty bills on the north, ■west protect the port from the land side, and in the deep water of the Golden Horn, which is four miles long and half a mile in width, ships ride safely at anchor, free from the menace of attack ana beyond the reach of the weather. The guns mounted on the hills are plainly visible from the water in a number of placeß, whilo, in curious contrast to the smiling muzzles of these pieces of artillery, are the clusters of I suburban residences which are scattered about the hillside, even descending in places to the level of the water.

The main street runs east and west through, the business quarter and across the railway track to Amur Bay, and east past the Government buildings. The main street, Svellandskaya, named after the frigate upon which the Grand Duke Alexis Tisited the port in 1873, follows the curve of the Golden Horn. Lying betwsen the street and the shore v on rising ground, are the residences of the Commandant of the Port/ the public gardens, the Admiralty gardens, the museum of the Geographical Society, the residence of the Governor of

Plimorsk, the grounds of the Maritime Club, the native bazaars, and the steamboat quay. At one point there ia a magnificent granite monument surmounted by a bronze globe, on which perches an eagle with; outstretched wings. Thiß monument commemorates the memory of Admiral Neveliki, who made several voyages in the Ease in the early fifties. Oa the north side of the street there is the cathedral of the Holy Virgin, and there are also the offices of the Municipal Council, the Post.and Telegraph Bnreau, and the railway station. . The Svetlandskaya is crossed by the Aloutskaya, and the point afc which these two streets intersect is the commercial centre of the town. The main street is well paved with granite, and it is efficiently drained. The sidewalks are raised and asphalted, the housesoffices or public buildings as they may be—are imposing and lofty structures of brick. The pretensions to architect tural beauty which Vladivostock boasts come to- those who know Siberia and the untidy wastes of the tcveus there as a pleasing contrast.

Labour in Vladivostock i s native— j Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, the Russian authorities finding ih a t greater efficiency is procurable at the hands of these .workmen- than in the ease when the .work is given pver to Russians. There is, therefore, a very large native population, alien to Russian authorities, but contested, peaceful, and industrious. This section of the population not only supply {(he labour market, but controls a large proportion of the trade which makes, Vladivostock its centre' Tlie trade of Vladivostok is comprehensive. Its imports' include most of the products of the west while its exports are characteristic of its position and ciuite, local, as regards their •destination.- ' As a commercial centre, Vladivostock is su perior to Dalny, although the wonderful city which is in process of completion in the vicinity of Port Arthur threatens one day to eclipse its northern sister.

There is a- very cosmopolitan population in Vladivostock, made up of adventurers from all climes ; IWish l'reneh, German and Anierifcan "biisi' ness men from" the west, and a spriitkj»'g of pretty women- from San l'rancist-o. Upon' the whole, it is a motley, uninviting community t« winch the principles of morality are strangely wanting. However, the Hays speed merrily enough i n Vladivostock ; there is no little social gaiety, and although the place is a military and naval centre, there is little harshness of discipline anil much good feeling. The country round Vladivostock is liare an d nilly ; there is no timber, yet, exoltfciing the reservations' given' oVer to the military authorities, it is quite possible to enjoy sport in Khe immediate vicinity of the harbour J-|'ie authorities offer few obstacles to such meaus of recreation. ] n - Oovxl, they welcome the strano-m----with a frank and open hosflitaKtyso long as lie preserves discretion, exercises tact, and conceals his camera. The camera and curiosity arc at the" root of any trouble which ■occurs in Vladivostock.