THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 334, 19 May 1877, Page 4

THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

GUNBOATS FOR COAST DEFENCE. A letter from London appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald recently, suggesting that the Australian Colonies should follow the example of China and Japan in procuring heavily-armed gunboats for coast and harbour defence. Each would carry a 38-ton gun, throwing a jdatepiercing shot of 800lbs., would bj capable of steaming at ten knots, and would require a full crew of 30 men only. Four would cost about L 130,000 ; and three might be stationed at Sydney, and one at Newcastle. The question of colonial defences is a large and complex one. Its difficulty depends in no slight degree upon the probable unwillingness of the colonists to incur the large outlay necessary to the j execution of any scheme that would cuiy j the promise of efficiency. And, although j we are in a fair way to obtain the most trustworthy advice upon it, the point of doubt is, whether there will be a readiness to give it effect.- But, in the meanwhile, the suggestion about the gunboats is worthy of consideration. Unless Me ran depend upon the Imperial Government to establish an efficient _ nautical patrol upon the waters bordering upon our coasts, a great deal may he said to show that it would be wise to establish or provide for one ourselves. "We should then have an outer line of defence, which would have to be broken through before the strength of our fortifications or torpedo By stem could be tested. —bydiioj 31oil. EGYPT AND THE EAST. A correspondent sends the following extract from Colonel Co!ley's report, to show what help Egypt is able to rendei Imke\ in the war against Russia " Egypt is now pledged to furnish an army of 30,000 men complete with cavahy and guns. In the Crimean war she furnished 21,000. The Egyptian anny is almost the creation of the present ruler, Ismail Pasha, who on his accession found only two infantry regiments and a few detachments of irregulars. It now numbers on a wai strenct'.i 52,000 infantry, ca\ ah'}, and 144 guns. These troops are all organised and drilled on European principles, mainly after French models. Many of the highest officials are actually old French officers. In addition to these, Egyptmaintains a force of 8000 sandschaks or irregular troops, who receive a higher rate" of pay, but are required to arm, clothe, and feed themselves, and are permanently stationed on her frontiers. In case of war Egypt can raise 10,000 irregular cavalry among the tribes that are subject to her.' ; HOW HOBART PASHA ENTERED THE TURKISH SERVICE. The following is given by I'' unify Fa,r as the true story about Captain the Hon. A. C. Hobart, better known as Hobart Pashaln 18GS the Turkish Government requested the Britisii Government to send them a uaval ofiieer of rank in organise their navy ; and the Foreign Office granting their permission, the Admiralty was asked t«» find an admiral wiio was willing to go. Tuere was little ditiiculty in finding one, the promised salary being something like L 7,000 p-i' annum, and there was any amount of scrambling for the prize. Tiicir Lordships took sucii a long time considering tiie claims of the numerous applicants that the .1 urks became tired of waiting, and they accepted the services of Captain Hobart. The authorities at Whitehall selected Admiral Sir "William "Wistman, Bart., K.C.8., who conducted the naval operations in the last New Zealand war, and informed the Turks of their choice. The latter declined the. offer "with thanks.' being already suited. Their Lordship:;, in great anger at losing such a piece of patronage, ordered Captain Hobart home, and declared they should erase his name from the " Navy List" if he did not obey them. Naturally enough, that gallant officer did not see why he should give precedence to Sir "W i'liaui W iseman, and he refused point blank to return to England. His name was therefore struck out of the " Navy List." Three years ago the injustice was recognised, and Captain Hobart's name was replaced on the lietired List; and as he served with distinction in the Russian war, it seems very unfair to deprive him of his retired pay, which amounts to rather less than LSOO per annum. THE RUSSIAN POLICY. (" The Times," I'cii. 23.) It would not be surprising if the Prussian Government should have at last come to believe that the time has not arrived for beginning an attack upon the Ottoman Empire. No doubt the temptations to push on are many, and their influence is great. The oppression of the Christians in Turkey, the crusading fervor among the fanatical masses of the Russian people, the exciteineut of the army, the pledge of the Czar himself at Moscow, and Turkey's unceremonious disregard of the Conference, make the position of Russia very difficult. The inducements to act are sucb that many rulers, if in the place of the Czar, might s'ait thtir eyes and strike. The suspense must be so p .inful t .at it would be a po_ : ! ive lvlitf to end it even by a Mi--..: disdain for co iseque-ices, as Napoleon 111. did when lie cue short a conflict o? motives by a wor-l which cost him his tluone, and his country two splend'd provinces. But, on the other hand, the Cz;.r is emphatically a man of peace. H's mi::.d i;: u io have be\n saddened Ly ti.:* ineir.oi-y of the immense disiiti'.s wliicj ■ he Crimean War inflicted on his country, and amid which he began his reign. He has about him a powerful

party in favour of peace, ancl the history o: Russian av.tj with Turkey must have tilled his mind with many forebodings. Tiie conquest of Central Asia lias made a heavy drain on the Russian Treasury, and the finances have been crippled by the re-organisation. of a gigantic anny. Trade, which has never yet had a fair start, is paralysed by the fear of war, and, should war break out, it may lose as much in a few months as it has gained in twenty years. All these facts will have bien stated by the Minister of Finance, and the hmperor's kindly nature may be still more powerfully impressed by the thought of the i 1.-Ovis'-e-l for wi icii a d iliation of war \s oulu b J the signal. Terrible :is the loss of life was in lo2b and Io2D, it would in all probability be far exceeded by the havoc of a conh st which the Turks would regard as a light for the very existence of tlieir power. Russian peasants would have perished by tens of thousands before the Czar could slay his hand. It would be no wonder if such a prospect should revive terrible memories of the disasters which broke his father's heart. The force of these considerations would be greatly lessened if Russia could count on a single powerful ally ; but she stands absolutely alone. They would also be lessened if Turkey could, by escaping immediate chastisement, consolidate her power for evil. But Russia at least docs not believe tlint the Porte has a long lease of existence. It is a maxim at St. Petc-rsburgh that the Ottoman .Power is swiftly peris';.ing of internal causes, which it has passed the power of statesmanship to remove, and that Russia has only to wait in order to pro tit by the inevitable ruin. That she would wait would scarcely have been doubtful if the Czar had not delivered his Moscow speech ; but Russian diplomacy has lost much of its skill if it cannot show that events wdl fulfil the rash pledge, or that in the divided and critical state of Europe he must choose i.is own time to keep his woid.