THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7270, 19 October 1891, Page 4

THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

A correspondent of the London Standud, writing on Angus* 20, says : I have reoently had an opportunity of visiting the Austro-Russian frontier in Bessarabia, at far m the mouth of the Danuba. One of the moit striking change* in that region since my pre rtoui visit ii in the condition of the frontier guard. These frontier guards •re made up from the Caucasian troop*, and till within tho hit two yean were regarded as gendarmes placed alone the border to prevent smuggling. They now form a permanent advance guard, ready to invade the territory of (he neighboring oountry at a few hours' notice. Their guard'houies are erected at distances averaging three versta apart, and during the day guards are inarching between them, whilst at night this duty is omied out by mounted patrols. On the other aide the Roumanian frontier, ono otn go miles and mites without seeing a patrol. Most of the towus aud villages close to the frontier I found filled with soldiers. Ac Vilsovo and Kilia five regiments bad arrived during tho spring, in addition to the men already there. At Kagul three regiments arrived a month ago, whilst at Jalpuch reinforcements of about 7000 men have only just taken up their quatters. The same aotivi'y in pouring troops into the villages may be eaid to be going on all along the frontier. Some ide% as to the number of men stationed between Bender and Odessa may be formed when it is officially stated that fortyfive betallioni of infantry, twenty»nine squadrons of cavalry, and thirty-two batteries of artillery will take part in the ordinary military manoeuvres which will be held between these two districts. These manoeuvres are apart from the grand manoeuvres which will take pi ice later in the Governments of Kief, Podolia, and Yolhynia, when upwards of 100,000 men will be massed together, drawn from the interior of Russia, and not from the troops already concentrated along the souih-wes'.ern frontier. During the month of May a party of military engineers, specially tent from St. Petersburg by the Minister of War, inspected the districts between Bender and Ungheny, and Toplitz and Bolgrad for the purpose of erecting two or three large forts. Besides these, a large number of observation towerq are being built quite close to the frontier. Thus, whilst the Czar and his Government | are continually Assuring the Powers ot their desire for peace, tbey are pressing forward with all possible speed their armaments along the Austro-Russian ( and other frontier! j Rent, which, 1 11 a short time ago, j was only a small insignificant town, has been made the headquarters of the B »ck Sea and Danube Shipping Company, and a large dockyard is being erect J d there. It would be more correct to say that the Rassi&n Governr.enc ii erection a dockyard there tinder the name of the above company. This cempauy has been brought before the notice ot Europe eeveral times lately, and was originally started to enter into competition with the AuatrcHaogarian trade with Serria ■ but after a short time the Russian Government took it under its care, and it now enjoys a yearly subsidy of 164,000 roubles— at least, that is the sum stated, but I believe it is considerably larger. Moreover, it possesses the right, granted by the Minister of -Finance, of forwarding troops to any purt of tbe Black Sea or elsewhere, and the privilege of flying tbe Russian naval fljg. At Reni pontoons are being built nnder tbe pefeonal superintendenca of Rear-Admiral P«leolof. These pontoons, some of which are 96ft long and 18feet wide, and others 155 ft locg, are being put together as fast as possible, and then forwarder] to the stations of this coropiny at Turn Severin. Rad* nevaz, Rustchuk, Sistovo, Corabia, Galaiz, and other ports ; so that the Russian Government have quite a fleet of pontoons at these places when she requires them. In the vicinity of Reni barracks are Leing built capable of accommodating upwards of 5000 men, in addition to the barracks already there ; so that in time of war this town will become of great importance,