The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-27
RUSSIANS ON THE PACIFIC

PURCHAsABLE VESSELS FOR PRIvATEERs-THE
SHAH AND THE cRAysER-A sTEALTHY vfs1r
TO PUGET SOUND.
SAN FRAScsco, May Is, 1878.
The arrival of the Cimbria In American waters and
the reported following OF other vessels from Europe
in some way associated with Russian purposes on the
Pacific, have very naturally awakened . lively
interest here Al such times the imagsn.
alton takes fight and readily seIzes ever
trning item OF intelligence, and clothes It with plant
and purposes or the grandest magnitude. We have
accordingly, been well supplied during the past weei
with tho evidences OF projected Russian privatesrna
and the probability OF great battles our Pacific
waters; but as far fact goes mo one knows
nothing about It." There 10 probably not
dozen influential Russians resident IN this city
indeed l told by wealthy, intelligent
Ftnlander yesterday that OF Russians proper there
arc not more than halt dozen in San Francisco-and
thus the secrets Of the Consulate have cwcr chances
OF escape from under the impress OF the wax and tho
tie Of the rcd tape than those committed 10 the care
of any representative Of foreign Power stiI. by
putting this and that together, supplemented by
unQuarded expression here and there, tolcrably
clear understanding Of the Russian programme for
the Pacific in case OF war can be understood
EARLY PREPARATIONS.
So little commercial business being done on this
coast with Russia vice consul was all that was
deemed necessary representation Of that govern
mcnt till the Gear resolved on war with Turkey, and
apprehcnding that England might chime IN with
tho Mussulman at the beginning OF that con.
test a distinguished officer Of the government
was sent from st. Petersburg to reside here
as Consul General. 1t was matter OF sur
prise here at the time when that official
arrived, but his appointments now finds clear inter-
probation in the hight Of the present hour. Should
General on the Pacific will have important role q
play, and IL Is thus understood by those who asso
cale with that gentleman anu watch the progress Of
events in Europe Is believed that the greatest
efforts TO DO made by Russia destroy British
merce on the high will be made on the Pacific,
and SO reported purchase OF vessels for the OF
tue Russian governments in Europe. on the Atlantic
seaboard ana here have foundation OF fact al lcasi
tins much contingentIy.
NO PRIvATEERNa.
have been informed, by parties who claim TO know,
that etters OF marque" have actually been sent by
the Russian government 70 this city. ! nave not
spoken with those who afarm that they have seon
them: but have it from ..the next man." While
may have doubt OF tho positive accuracy OF tho
statement there Is quite possibility that IL u truo
But OF this l am assured-by who speak.
almost unless Russia IL forced
feel oycrmatched no letters Of marque viii DO filed
ont rho Cimbra OF which 80 much s writton, Is
al present destined 10 be store ship the Russian
eer on tho Pacific, Tor those ships-oi-war must of
necessity be unencumbered, whilo In aghting trim,
with the coal and stores necessary tor lengthy
cruise. ana the passengers OF the Cimbria are in
tenoed TO complement the crews OF the feet TO their
full war strength. The only aid that Russia seeks
now IRON this country 10 transportation OF stores
and coal and III obtaining tho latter should
sue she will have considerable dlcuty. In Asiatlc
waters whore the feot now Is there - no trouble
The Russians possess valuable coal mtno on Sagha-
lin Island. ana they can always obtain supply from
NagasakI where excellent article IS sold Tor 81 90
a ton. But chasing British merchant lnen, III at
lacking British stoamers the Australian colonies
British Coumbia-ali IN the programme-lo obtain
coal will be the embarrassment, and to meet that
difficulty American ships are now looked after.
COAL CoNrRABAND or WAR;
At the outbreak Of hos.it,es England wiz proclaim
Russian representatives are fully aware, and arc said
10 making such arrangements as will avert the en-
supplies. There are vessels on TINS coast well
adapted Tor the service Of transportation, II
purposes, and on these the British authorities
keep watchiu eye, Test they should be purchased
by Russia lev days ago large tidewheel steamer.
OF nearly tour thousand tons burden-thc Great
Repubc-that mad been consigned 10 inactivity for
many months, was purchased by somebody hero.
with the avowed purpose Of making her passenger
and commercial steamer, plying between here and
oregon. The more likely use 10 thai OF carrying
stores and coal 10 the Russian foet. IL IL
assumed that there will be no violation OF neutrality
laws by Americans selling ships and cargocs 70
nsgs ,no %na, Rupsa nav
make Of such ships Is matter OF their own. Whether
TINS logic may stand the crucble Of International
diplomacy not 10 another thing; but II IS fact
shat this Is the language OF discussion nero, and
viii no doubt regulate the hrst transactions between
the Russian representatives and American SHIPS
| owners the Pacihc.
SOME srxAxKRs CAN Be BOUGHT.
Several good steamers, with some expenditure oi
money, could DO made available for cruisers and could
damage TO mercantile shippng but fol
fighting purposes with IN antagonist there arc very
lew OF them ready Tho most noticeable OF the avail
| able lss me Pokin and Toxic, $500 TONS
zach. stoaming fourteen or fifteen knots an
Ss .pens hass thai ess
not be purchased there for doubling that
statement should Congress take such measures as
may ultimate lead TO Limitation OF Chinese omi-
grafton 70 THIS country those two powerful steamers
would DO vastly too large Tor continuing the commerce
possibility oil such change IL " believed that The
| Pacific Mail company would only DO 100 glad
| to sell them for Russian transports, aud from
The tact thai The Oriental ana Occidental company
could, az u IL already stated, without much incon.
vcnience TO commerce carry ali lac passengers and
ordinary trade, there Is particular reason Why the
Pekin aud Toxic should not change banda The
| oregon Company, q German nrm, have Two ssoamerA
Oregon and George W. Kldsr, that could soon b
turned into cruisers The former II entirely new,
900 tons; tho later 10 In excellent condition, 5W
tons Both are iron screws and steam twelve
knots an hour. Ihey ply between shis port
and Portland, Oregon, arc OF course buiu
for present business; but there NO reason why
world where properly changes hands quicKer than n
San Francisco. The Alaska Fur Company have prob
ably the OcSt quit stcamof--tne Oh fau-tnAt wa
ever ON the Pacific She III $50 tons, steams eleven
knots, ana could DO mado formidable shp-of-was
for crafts Of that tonnage. And Tor stcAm yacht,
236 TONS knots the Peruvian steamer Sofia - tho
beauty VI The bay Under she very fast, and
Is regarded rAkish craft that could be- useul
Her owner, Captain Mulloy, Is native OF New York,
living the Palace, evidently we'll satisfied With this
world and proud Of the SOFIA Yet sne can DO bought
seen by advertisement
RussiA's PACIFIC SQUADRON
The Russian fleet the Pacinc VI Tho present Tune
consists Of the following ships:-
Bayan, flagship; fuil-rgged stcemcr, 1000 TONS
carries oighI rlned guns. sevon-,nch aud nveinch
brecchoadors Her crew, officers aud men, 800
vsadnik, l.40o tons, carrying guns, 200 ofncers
aud men
Japonetz, originally built IN New York, rebuilt In
Russian dockyard; about the same ~ tho Vsadnik IN
men and guns.
These three vessels constitute the Chinese sQuadron
under the command VI Rear Admiral Boyle
The siberian squadron consists OF the Abreck, Is
sister ship TO the vsadnik; Toungous, 4 guns $50
tons, 100 officers and men Ermak, sister ship "a
the formers Gaydemark, 1000 tons guns, $50 monI
vost0ck, light guns 40O tons, 80 mon, and AmorikA
Sobei anu Gvrnostao, three shipz The whole q