Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1899 DEFENCES OF THE EMPIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8418, 18 January 1899, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1899 DEFENCES OF THE EMPIRE.

Tin) presence of two line vessels of the Australasian squadron in linrbor gives especial interest to tlie subject of our naval defences in tlie Pacific, which it will have been observed are being strengthened by the addition of the Crescent. This magnificent vessel, which is now on her way out to Sydney, is one of Her Majesty's first-class cruisers, a boat equal in size and strength but of greater speed than the llagahip Royal Arthur, and has recently borne the pennant of His Royal Highness the Duke of York. The sending of such an important vessel to Australasia-it waters is no doubt in accord with the policy of strengthening the naval defences throughout the Empire, upon which so much activity has recently hcou displayed, and it, shows that England is not neglectful of her sons and valuable possessions at the Antipodes, hut is prepared to jealously guard them against any aggressor. It is just possible that the step has been taken in consequence of the French proposal to erect another Sebastopol in New Caledonia. This proposition, according to a recent letter of the London correspondent of the Age, has caused a lively feeling of apprehension amongst all persons in tlie Old Country who take an interest in Australia, for the existence of a large naval and military station in the Western Pacific within striking distance of Melbourne and Sydney could only he regarded as a standing menace to the safety of the Australasian colonies. " Under such conditions, it is hoped," writes the Age contributor, "that a sharp look-out will he kept upon the New Hebrides, and that those islands will not be allowed to fall under exclusively French influence. One of the results of the new French policy at Noumea, and of the acquisition of the Philippines by the United States is that increased interest is taken in North Borneo and the British possessions there. At the recent annual dinner of tho company which exploits that territory, Mr W. C. Cosvie, the managing director, stated that during the past year the aspect of the Far K-jsi had completely changed. The Russians and French had completely secured themselves in China ; the French had improved their position and fortified themselves just outside the company's territory, and the Americans had made themselves masters of the Philippines. There was some reason to hope that the unique position of North Borneo had not altogether been lost sight of, for if the harbors were fortified, British North Borneo would become a veritable fortress in the midst of many camps, and a base for the North China squadron." There is every indication that in the near future the Far Ease, really to us the Near West, will become the theatre of many startling and dramatic international events, and our proximity thereto lends additional interest to passing events, and causes us a feeling of satisfaction when we find the British Government fully alive to the necessity of keeping up Pacific defences.