The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-26 00:00:00

PRETENSIONS OF A. USTRIA AND PRUS-
SIA TO MARITIME POWER.

It is singular that the two great German Powers,
who have little or no seaboard, and the defence of
whose territories depends almost entirely upon the
employment of large land forces, should exhibit to
the world a zealous ambition to become naval
powers. The Governments of both countries, it
would appear, aro severally at this moment mak-
ing unheard-of efforts to create for themselves a
navy.
At the conclusion of the war of the French Re-
volution, and many years thereafter, Austria had
not a single war vessel. Indeed she had little or
no commerce to protect, nor had she many sea-
ports to defend. But Prince Metternich and his
colleagues, who best understand the traditional
policy and ambition of Austria, foresaw that the
day might come when a naval force would be of
importance to the prestige of that power. The
nucleus of a navy was formed in the Adriatic, and
fishermen from the villages of the coast were in-
duced to enter the service. Of late years the Go-
vernment have given more than ordinary attention
to the increase of its strength, and it is understood
that the Emperor takes an extraordinary interest
in this infant branch of his warlike establishments.
Several of the vessels which constitute the Aus-
trian navy been built in the ship-building yards of
the Thames, and the strength of the armament is
as follows :—six frigates, carrying upwards of 200
guns ; sevea corvettes, carrying 135 guns ; four-
teen brigs, carrying 165 guns; seven galleys, car-
rying 70. guns ; two schooners, carrying 9 guns ;
besides nine steamers, of 80 to 300 horse-power ; a
fleet nearly as formidable as that of Naples, which
has recently boasted that her naval power is next
supreme to France in the Mediterranean. It may
be that the far-sighted statesmen of Austria had
anticipated what she has gained from the present
war, viz., an important voice and interest in the
maritime regulations of the Black Sea as the pro-
tectress of the commerce of the Danube, which is
destined to become of great importance should
Russian pretensions be really defeated in that
quarter. Notwithstanding the intimacy of her
alliance with Russia, the policy of Austria for-
several generations has been to recover her right
over the navigation of the great river which flows
through the heart of her territories, and in this re-
spect the interest and the policy of England are
identical with that of the eastern Germanic empire.
Austria has truly profited by a war which has
cost nothing beyond the exercise of their best wits
by her superior statesmen and diplomatists.
Prussia, until within the last few years, made no
pretensions to naval 'power, and, beyond some ves-
sels stationed at the commercial ports for police
purposes, she possessed no vessel carrying guns of
any calibre. Like her neighbours, however,
Prussia is determined to have a warlike flotilla.
When, after tho war with Danmark, the German
Confederation disposed of the fleet they had em-
ployed on the occasion, Prussia purchased several
vessels to form the nucleus of a navy. She has
since increased the power of hersmall fleet by pur-
chasing from, or bartering vessels with, the English
Admiralty ; and we have recently heard of the ex-
ploits of a Prussian man-of-war, under the com-
mand of one of the princes of the blood, even in the
Mediterranean. The new service is popular in
Prussia ; the sons of the best families strive kr
commissions in the infant navy.
With what views is Prussia thus actively creating
a naval force ? Probably never to employ it
against England ; but certainly never against
Russia, if there is any truth in the proverbial say-
ing of the Czars, that " Prussia will never give
them any offence—Correspondent of the Morning
Advertiser.

TILE LAND TRANSPORT CORPS.

Last night a very numerous meeting of the discharged
members of the Land Transport Corps was hell at the
Eight Belle St. Luke's, to take into consideration what
measures should be adopted to prosecute their claims on
the Government. The room in which the meeting was
held was filled to overflowing, and large numbers who
could not obtain admission congregated outside.
Corporal DAVIS, who was called to the chair, having
briefly stated the object of the meeting,
Quartermaster-Serjeant AUSTIN said he was sorry
that meeting should have hal to bo called, because lie
thought the Government ought to have done them jus-
tice without it. (Hear, hear.) He had taken it upon
himself to call the meeting at his own expense, because
he felt cinfident that their claims were so well-founded
that they only required to be pressed in a proper man-
per in or ler to secure a satisfactory settlement.
Every corps that had come home from the Crimea
and had been discharged had received a gratuity except
their own. Gratuities of IGI, 121., 171, and 241, had
been granted. to four of such corps, but they were
foreigners. (Cries of "06, oh.") He wanted to know
why Englishmen of good character—and no one wee
sent out without one—should be discharged, as they had
been, with a paltry pound ? (Hear, and Shame.) He pro-
posed that they should take steps to place themselves
upon an equality with the Foreign Legior, as far as the
gratuity was concerned. lie proposed that both first and
second class hands should be placed in the same position
in that respect, although the second class men bad a bounty
of 51., while the first class men received no bounty, but
had 2e Gd. a day with rations. Neitaer of these classes
had been clothed properly. He knew personally that in
the Ripop, the Thames, and two other vessels, 200 of
their men had been sent out partia:ly naked. They had
never seen a coat, and many of them had to encounter
the inclemency of the winter with only summer trousers
and white slopes on. He proposed that they should
memorialise the Secretary of War for compensation for
the clothing of which they had been deprived, contrary
to engagement entered into with them when they en-
listed, and to which they were therefore justly entitled.
They were to have had two pairs of boots, and they only
got one. Ho himself had got no clothing whatever,
notwithstanding the rack he held during the one year
and seven month 9 he had been in the cords. The next
grievance of which they had to complain was the maarer
in which they had been discharged. The document
which most of them had received, containing the dis-
charge, was, he understood, illegal, and if so, they would
be entitled to their pay until they got a proper discharge.
He did not state that as a fact, however, but only as a
point which it was intended to take legal advice upon,
and if they found that they had such a claim, he believed
they would unanimously determine to press ia These in-
formal paper discharges were not like the regular parch-
ment discharges which some of the men had got, and
which included a certificate of character, enabling them
t r procure other erepioyment. Those who had no such
certificates were suffering the greatest hardships and pri-
vations in consequence, and it was scandalous and dis-
graceful that men of good character, who at the mo-
ment of need had responded to the call of the Govern-
ment, and who had nobly done their duty, should be
this shamefuly and harshly treated. (Applause) Ho
proposed, therefore, in the next place, that they should
employ a solicitor to embody the facts of their case in a
petition to Parliament, and to prosecute their claims, in
such quarters as might be proper. It was not a case in
which many words were needed. The facts were suffi-
cient, and having stated them, he left the rest to his fel-
low comrades. (Cheers.)
Mr. CHAMBERS said there was one part of Serjeant
Austin's statement which he wished to correct. The
serjeant said the second-class men got a bounty of 51.
He saw many second-class men in the room, and he
would ask, did they get 51. ? (Loud cries of "No, no.")
He knew that all he got was ss. at the time of enlist-
ment, 15s. when he went to Bristol, and 1/. Os.
afterwards, making 21. 4d. What was to be done
about the other 21. Ills. 100. ? (fleas-, hear.) Ho pro-
posed it should be applied for, as well as the gratuity
to which they were entitled. (Applause, and cries of
" Yes, yes.") . They were also promised a " kit," when
they entered ; but when they got to Bristol, they found
they had to pay for every article that was served out to
them, and the prices charged were shamefully high.
They were charged as. 10d, for smock frocks that they
could kayo bought anywhere for half a-crown ; 9s. 4d for
a pair of shoes, which they could have bought in any
shop in London for 51. (A voice—" And a great deal
better for the money.") Yes, and a great deal better
for the money. Then, they had to pay for their
needles, thread, and c aton, and he was sure that all
they got of these articles could have been got for a
penny, while they were charged ls. lid for them.
(Hear, hear.) They were charged ls. for painting two
or three letters on their knapsacks. In fact, they had
been cheated in every possible way ; and now they had
been discharged in this scandalous and disgraceful man-
ner, without compensation or gratuity of any kind, while
foreigners were treated with the greatest liberality.
(Applause.)

Another SPEAKER said he knew many of the men who
had been sent out with only half a kit, and who, after
being charged Bs. 4d. for summer trousers, had never
gut any winter trousers at all.
Mr. CHAMBERS continued. He had been invalided
and sent to Scutari. When he got there he found the
place was crowded, and they then sent him on to Iten-
kol, a civil hospital, where they stopped 3id. a day from
his pay for rations. Now when he entered the corps he
expected to get his full pay, and he wanted to know why
that stoppage should take place because they had not
room for him in a military, and sent him to a civil hos-
pital. That was no fault of his.—(A Voice—" I was
stopped 3id. a day for rations in Scutari Hospital.") He
did not know that before, but he thought they should
claim that money back, and be felt very much disposed
to sue for it in some of the county courts, if there was
no other way of getting it.
After some further statements of a similar character
from other speakers, it was unanimously resolved to
apply to the Secretary of War for compensation for cloth-
ing, and to Parliament for redress of their other griev-

anceß, especially with reference to-the gratuity. -
A committee of five was appointed to carry out these
resolutions, and the meeting closed with the usual com-
pliments to the chairman.

The letters from Holland mention that the whole of
the 850,0001. of silver, bought of the Bank of Amster-
dam about a month back by London firms, was sent
to Vienna. The price at which it was sold ranged
between 105 f. 60c. and 105 f. 70c., but the Bank have
now raised their terms, and have fixed their selling
price for fine silver at 105 f, 80c,, and their purchas-
ing price at 104 f, Gc.