The Taranaki Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.]

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9401, 30 March 1898, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.]

WEDNESDAY, MAROH 30, 189 S.

THE WAR CLOUD.

The feeling in England is very strong against the want of decision shown by the Salisbury Government in the matter of Kussian attempts to annex and occupy Port Arthur and Talienwan. The temporising policy of Lord Salisbury has had its natural eiFect, as Bussia after announcing its intention of relinquishing its claims to occupy the ports in question, to (ho exolusiou of the Shipping of other nations-, h&s hoisted her flag ihw-o, and is about fortifying Port Arthur at once, rtussia', as stated in a former article, rides a waiting race, and moves stealthily forward with a view to securing outlets to the seaboard. If she is checked she either parleys and temporises without receding, or, if closely pressed, takes back her foot, and quietly awaits another opportunity of re advancing it. fly this policy she has crept up to Britain's Indian frontier, and is now doing hor utmost to foment strife between the frontier tribes and the British forces, in the hope that hy so doing she will compel the employment of a very large number of men in that quarter and prevent their servicesbeingavailablefurtherEast.if war should break out between herself and Great Britain over the Chinese question. Kussia will, as has so long boen her practice, avoid being forced into such a conflict, as she is fully aware of tho paralysing effect of such a sfciuggle on her trade and commerce, and will do much to avoid it. But it has become a burning question in England how much longer Russia is to be allowed to pursue this system of warfare ; for it is nothing else, notwithstanding the fact of it not being carried on by armed force and the shedding of blood. The British people are not content to see their interests in China damaged by Russian encroachments and interference, as fully 80 per c»nt. of the foreign trade with the former nation is at present in Britishhands. Itistowrestalargeproportion of this trade from its present possessors that Russia is striving to establish herself in China. The un fortunate indisposition of Lord Salisbury at so serious a juncture is greatly to be deplored, but it is reassuring to know that all parties at Home are agreed upon the neces-ity for England at once taking a firm stand on this latest attempt on the part of Russia to encroach on British rights in China. It may be asked, Is Britain prepared for war ? The answer to this is, that she is better prepared than Russia, and would gain a considerable advantage by forcing the pace, as the longer the struggle is delayed the better prepared will be her adversary, whose navy is still unequal to the work it would be called upon to perform if war broke out between herself and Britain. The first blow in a fight, provided it is a hard one on a weak spot, frequently ends the battle, and gives the victory to the striker at the cost of small loss. War is to be avoided, if possible ; if it cannot be, the sooner it is declared the shorter will be its course and the less its cost. We still think that Russia will keep out of such a calamitous struggle as long as possible, and will not strike the first blow ; but, on the contrary, recede from any position the holding of which would involve her in a deadly war with Great Britain, whose naval armament by far exceeds that of any two of the other Great Powers. The position, however, has become so serious that it is hard to say what a day may bring forth. This should serve to bestir the Government of ihis colony in matters of defence, which at present are in anything but a satisfactory state, owing tD the way our volunteers have been discouraged, and our shore defences neglected. Under the circumstance, we hope that the disbandment of corps like the Wanganui Navals will be suspended, and that the men of the latter body will follow the example of their Napier comrades, and remain on the roll of the colony's defenders at least until the war cloud has passed over, and peace is once more in no danger of being disturbed.