156
must be persons of exceptional constitutions. Few who have made their home at the Peak would willingly change to the lowerlevels again, and one has only to compare the rosy cheeked children on the heights with the pale washed- out looking children brought up in the town to see a demonstration of the healthiness of the Peak climate more convincing than any scientific dissertation on the subject. It is a recognised fact that difference of altitude does not make up for difference of latitude, but it is a very good substitute for it, and Hongkong is to be congratulated on having a residential district on the heights within such easy reach. The Peak may have eks, and its advantages may be over-rated, bat arter
making all allow ances it is far superior to the lower levels as a place of residence. The question still remains, however, why the police should be subject to a higher rate of sickness there than in the town and it is on his should engage the atta rities.
Perf. Ross fy evidently digutho- found an alliance with Russia,
rat
om he thinks we should be fast friends
but that does not blind him to the necess of Great Britain being prepared for allients
"
make much noise, but it will have opportu-
[August 29, 1895.
nities of setting the ball a-rolling, and, in a work. quiet unobtrusive way, of doing much good
ARMED CRUISERS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND “which the cost of the new fortifications of Hongkong was divided between the two "Governments.'
» sent no proposal for new fortifications there Although there is at pre- appears to lurk in the sentence above quoted again becomes necessary to strengthen the some danger to the colony's finances when it desencos. We will be told then that the colony should contribute to the cost in the the Russian Volunteer Fleet, in the last In the course of an interesting article on same proportion as it contributes to the cost issue of Chambers' Journal by Mr. JoHN of barrack services and as it contributed on the previous occasion to the cost of fortifica- which are worth noting at the present junc- DILL Ross, some significant facts are given tious. applies to Singapore the Free Press says:-
Arguing the same point as it ture of affairs, when the Franco-Russian alliance is being placed so much in evi If international relations with foreign dence by our Gallic friends.
Mr. Ross, we powers should suggest to the War Office to may premise, writes as the open admirer of "place here a largely augmented garrison
Russia, and commences his paper by an ex- that allocation of troops could by no means
pression of satisfaction that be laid at our door as a local responsibility.
the clouds of "Should again the Inspector-General of
national prejudice which have so long separated Euglishmen and Russians are at "last clearing away." 'Fortifications, in view of the universal sub.
He also hopes that "stitution of quickfirers instead of the with the disappearance of old time feuds a ordinary breechloading naval guns, decide, friendship will spring up between the two say next year, that all the open emplace- nations that will work for the best interests Gruson cupolas, or other protection, or to Asia. Mr. Ross made the passage from "ments in the forts were to be shielded by of both and of peace throughout Europe and "he provided with disappearing mountings Singapore to Odessa in the Orel, one of the newest and fastest ships of the Volunteer
62
"
"
""
$
tualities, for he says:It seem lty of instead of the present system of pivot Fleet, and believes he is the only English-
sistent, to say the least of it, tond if "millions on our navy and our police coaling stations in the Far East, em is "fastest steamers in seas where I "terests are so important fly a for "Our Russian friendONTRIBUTION.
ITTATIVE
purposes.
THE NAVY LEAGUE.
man who has had that experience. He therefore may claim to have learned some- thing about this fleet that has been called
into existe..
mountings, such a radical change, involv- ing the almost entire reconstruction of the 'system of fortification here, could not be
Tegitimately put on our soudert "local responsibility." The 17 per cent. should cover everything, as a fair proportion
become an importatic factor in Russia's of our revenue to contribute to the cost of maritime position. If he has a bias it is in local and Imperial defence, and should not be favour of the Russians, who have by their The obligation which it has been sought liable to be augmented by extras of any kind energy and generosity raised up such a use- to imp se on this colony of contributing to whatsoever, except the cost of the local ful adjunct to the Russian Imperial Navy. the cost of barrack construction ought not Volunteer Corps and the provision of such The origin of the Dobra Volna Flob (the to be readily admitted. Lord RIPON's Crown land as may be required for military
Fleet of the Good Will) was the enthusiasm despatch on this subject is dated the 3rd
of the Russian people during the Russo- April last, and was followed on the 27th
Turkish War, at which time it was discovered June by the despatch fixing the military
the Russian Government had not sufficient contribution in future at a certain propor
transports at its command for the purposes of tion, viz., 174 per cent., of the revenue of the
the war, and hence the formation of the fleet. colony. The last named despatch establishes The objects of the Navy League, a branch The vessels first purchased were old Atlantic a new principle, under which any special of which it is proposed to establish in this liners and others, which have long since contribution for barrack services should no colony, ought to secure for it a wide sup. been replaced by the finest vessels which can longer be required. When the colony con- port. What the League proposes to do, as be built on the Tyne and the Clyde. Mr. tributes 17 per cent. of its revenue as its we understand, is to form an enlightened Ross says the Petersburg, Saratoff, and Oré contribution to the cost of Imperial defence, public opinion in respect of the Navy and can all steam their eighteen knots and are that contribution should be held to cover England's naval supremacy, so that there the fastest ships running cast of the Suez all its military liabilities, whether for may be something like continuity of policy Canal. It is no doubt perfectly correct, as barracks, fortifications, or other matters, and sustained energy in the direction of the Mr. Ross suggests, that the Volunteer Fiest Lord RIPON says, "The expedient of fixing naval affairs of the Empire. Hitherto our has had a marked influence on the tea trade a proportion of revenue as the amount of policy has been one of alternate scare and of China. The Russian merchant of to-day "the contribution will, I hope, prevent any apathy. A series of well written popular pays a very different price for freight by further feeling of uncertainty and dis articles appear in one of the London papers these fast steamers from what he did in the satisfaction, and will safeguard the rights showing that England's haval strength as old days by the costly and uncertain over- "of the home Government as effectually as compared with that of other powers is not land route, and the price having been so "the expedient of fixing the amount for so great as it ought to be. Instantly a greatly lowered the consumption of the some years ahead." This, it seems to us, scare sets in, the House of Commons, under article in Russia has greatly increased. should apply equally to the cost of barrack the pressure of public opinion, will vote Indeed, owing to the competition of India accommodation as to the cost of the personnel any amount that is required of it, and a and Ceylon having brought down the of the garrison. Both are items of the period of activity in shipbuilding ensues, to demand for Chinese teas in the British same service and the colony's payment not be succeeded by another period of in-market, Russia is uow the chief customer being on account of any particular item but difference. What is desired is that instead for Hankow teas. A trade much smaller a comprehensive military contribution it of this spasmodic activity there should be but nevertheless of growing dimensions is should be held to cover everything. The sustained watchfulness on all matters springing up in oil-seeds, pepper, and other point at present may not seem of very great affecting our command of the sea and a tropical products from the Straits Settle importance, for the proposed schedule of steady policy of preparedness for all emer-ments and Ceylon, which also helps to pro- barrack services for the next ten years would gencies; and this will best be secured by the vide freight for the Fleet. involve the colony in an expenditure of not formation of an enlightened public opinion The most important aspect of the Russian more than $50,000 a year, which is a substan- on the subject. But, it may be asked, Volunteer Fleet is, however, the political one. tial sum certainly, but one that it would per- granting that the Navy League may do Mr. Ross fully recognises this fact, and how haps not be thought worth while to seriously some good in educating the home electorates, it affects or may affect British interests in agitate about 'f there promised to be any what can be effected by a local branch in Eastern waters. He says that the steamers finality to the matter. We may rest assured, Hongkong? In a quiet way we think a are commanded and officered by officers of however, that before the present schedule good deal may be effected. are the Imperial Navy, and although the ships is completed very much larger services will located in the centre of what promises carry no armament the facilities doubtless
be the
within arca
board either at become necessary. And in addition to the to
which the exist for placing it on
Vladivostock as occasion cost of barrack accommodation there may be next great naval conflict will be fought Sebastopol or demands for additional fortifications. The out, we
"Here then," he exclaims, are in a position to watch may require.
"we have ships capable of carrying late Secretary of State in laying it down the growth of the squadrons of other -that two-thirds of the cost of barrack services powers, to
to form opinions as
their" from fifteen hundred to two thousand should be paid by the Imperial Government aims, and through the Navy League to in- 'troops, of a speed that no vessel East of and one-third by the Colonial Government form the public at home of what is going the Suez Canal can approach, and of an says, "that being about the proportion in on. The Hongkong branch is not likely to almost indefinite coal-endurance, for the
C.
We