Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1894. LORD SALISBURY ON THE PROSPECT OF WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6898, 9 February 1894, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1894. LORD SALISBURY ON THE PROSPECT OF WAR.

Lord Salisbury recently delivered an address at Cardiff of a somewhat alarming nature, considering the high standing and great knowledge of the speaker. The exPremier is acknowledged to be exceedingly well informed on foreign questions. He spoke of the huge European armaments, and remarked that two of the leading powers were already on the verge o f bankruptcy. The fearful strain must have an irritating effect both on Governments and people. Lord Salisbury did nob believe that any nation deliberately intended going to war. They were all anxious for peace, but m the present state of affairs a spark may set all Europe ablaze. It, therefore, behoved Englishmen to see that their fleet was m a state to defend the shores and commerce of the country against any hostile combination that might be effected. Lord Salisbury pointed out that naval and other expert authorities were of opinion that the prei sent state of the fleet did not give assurances of super ; ority as the circumstances of the country rendered necessary. He then pictured the Rtate of affairs if a hostile naval force were anchored m front of Cardiff, and demanded an enormous ransom as the price of immunity from destruction of the town and shipping. In such an event, he said, the banks and merchants would have to yield up all their gold, and even the ladies might have to bring forth their jewellery to satisfy the extortionate foe. The speaker next referred to the great element of uncertainty which now existed as regards naval warfare. Modern armaments have not been tested by actual battle. The loss of the Victoria and other warships were alluded to as intensifying the feeling of insecurity, and the remark was made that very few of the inventions and improvements came up to what had been claimed for thorn. Lord Roberts, speaking at a meeting of merchants and others m London on the state of the navy, said that the operations of the army abroad would depend upon tho maintenance of England's superiority as a sea power. Everywhere the navy is the first and main line of defence.

There is no attempt at disguising the fact that France is regarded as the probable or possible power which is to grapple with Great Britain for the supremacy of the seas, Therefore, it is somewhat consoling to read that there are misgivings m France as to the effectiveness of the French navy. But there is another way of looking at it, In this concern about their fleet, Frenchmen must have England m view, for no other power is m a position to contend with France at sea. Germany years ago abandoned the attempt to create a large navy, and Italy through financial causes is compelled to lag behind. Russia has made some advances of late m naval armaments, but only through an alliance with France could she hope to successfully combat England on the waters. A short time back we published the views of Sir Archibald Alison on the European situation. That experienced general is of opinion that Russia has for the present abandoned her designs on Turkey and the Far East. A cablegram since received goes to confirm General Alison's opinion. The message stated that it was reported m Berlin that Russia had guaranteed the security of the Indian frontier when the

Pamir difficulty has been settled. Another message stated that England had guaranteed the integrity of Afghanistan, of which Russia is the only likely invader. Read together, the two messages are reassuring. Mr Gladstone is well inclined to Russia, and it is quite on the cards that an arrangement has been made which will remove for some time at least all cause of disagreement between England and Russia m the Far East. But if Russia and France look forward to offensive operations against the Triple Alliance, the attitude which Great Britain may assume m the event of such a struggle must bo a subject of considerable uneasiness. Mr Gladstone will not be long at the head of affairs. There is no doubt that British sentiment would be on the 1 aide of the Triple Alliance— of course, more out of presumed interest than through love.^ France may feel that the most effective" way of keeping England quiet 19- to have ready for emergencies a

strong naval force. French statesmen, m proposing increased votes for the army, have invariably expressed peaceful intentions, urging that their object was to make France too strong to be attacked. This argument is true aa far as it goes, but it does not disclose che whole case. Revenge and the recovery of the lost provinces are ever present m tho mind of every Frenchman. But it may be true that the French only look forward to employing their fleet against England m case of the latter siding with the Triple»Allianct\ Whatever may be the motive of the French, England cannot suffer another nation to be equally powerful upon the seas. Lord Salisbury urges that a sufficient sum should be voted to place England unquestionably first as a naval power, and that the charge should be spread over a number of years.