The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-04-02
England and Russia.

43AFs A@A>A e1AN 4edooASN'
A special to the Baltimore american,
from London, dated the Goth, furnishes
some interesting facts about the prepara-
tion of England for an engagement with
Russia, especially in the marine arm of
the service. If these statement are cor
rect, England will have to proceed with
her hostile operations under great disad-
vantages. She will, however, proceed, and
if actual war is declared, she will whip
Russia and maintain her own territorial
claim in Afghanistan. The correspond
emit says
The order OF the Queen calling out the
reserves and militia, while it has not ma.
terially increased the excitement, already
painfully intense, is construed by the pop
ulace as tantamount to declaration of
war, and. indeed, all conditions OF people
are rapidly concluding that war is inevita-
bic. AS far as can be learned the situation
in Afghanistan is unchangeI. There has
been no fighting and no fresh movements
Of troops on either side, but it is evident
that this condition OF things cannot last,
and the demand made upon Russia tor Il
specific statement of her intentions on the
AASIcsll UOlOCA may PACOAPltttUO A1dbOC4S III
twenty-four hours. There is no quailing
nor sign of fear, but there is real appre-
hension that the resources OF the British
navy may not be equal to the demand made
upon it. England has had no opportunity
to test her navy since Nelson fell at Ira
falgar. There have been contests since
then, but all of minor character, and
with enemies immeaSurably inferior to
Great Britain IN ships and ornaments.
The navies of the world have, meanwhile,
grown into mighty engines of destruction.
The British navy is first on the Sell, as the
German army IS first on the land but
while the supremacy OF the latter Is due
to the most elaborate organization, in
which everything is foreseen and every
thing provided against, the former is Or
gained on the system OF happy go-lucky.
Should hoStilitieS begin to-day. there is
not single officer i'll the British navy
who knows how the fleet would have to be
employed. Effective blockade is a thing
OF the past. The immense ironclads OF
Russia could easily pass through block
aiding fleet, even though one or two should
90 down in the attempt, and once on the
open sea, what is there to prevent the de-
structiou of the defenseless ports of Great
Britain's colonies or the unprotected har-
bors at home, and the practical annihila-
tion of British commerce? The attitude
of France in the event of hostilities is dis
cussed with the greatest anxiety. The
French have been seriously offended by
England's course in Egypt. Many think
that an offer of Alliance with Russia
would be welcomed by France, and with
her magnificent navy, scarcely inferior to
that of Great Britain, she could swoop
down on the coast of England and repeat
the lesson taught by William of Normandy
nearly thousand years ago. Other al
liances are talked OF, not only as possible.
but probable. Germany would side with
the power which could best further the
ambitious schemes of Bismark, and Italy
would be forced to follow her eXample.
Italys splendid navy thrown into the bal
ance against England, would make the
burden of the latter heavier than she
could bear The talk of leveling Russian
fortresses is silly. Constadt is the only
ratification of Importance which Russia
would be called upon to defend. and aside
from its immense strength, the apparently
insignificant torpedo boats of the Russian
navy might dispose OF the gigantic English
iron-olads before they approached suffi-
GENTLY near to this great Russian b1lwarK
to make their guns effective, The torpedo
boats are feature OF naval warfare hnf
little understood and which MANY believe
is destined to revolhtionize the defences Of
of coast lines and harbors There is a
further anxiety in the minds of intelligent
naval officers which has found expression
to-day in numerous instances. There is
not at this moment single fighting fleet,
complete in all its parts, in any of the
British naval stations at home or abroad.
The channel fleet, supposed to be the main
stay of England'S naval strength, is no
more a fleet than half dozen batteries of
artillery are an army ; it is a few ironclads
some OF which are unable to cope with
modern ironcads-- WITHOUT torpedo boats
or ammunition tenders II war OVertakes
England, her ifonclads are liable tOtbs
thrust into positions where they will be
sacrificed for want OF these smaller craft.
which are indispensable to the movements
of modern fleet. There is really no di-
recting influence. Scratch fleets will he
entrusted to admrals with no experience
in handling so many vessels and who must
rely upon the inspiration of the moment
or the independent action of their CAPTAINS.
The theory is delusiyely held that imme
diately on declaration Of war the crews
Of the obsolete ships would be transferred
enmasse into modern lonGads. But an
ifohclad OF the modern type is a very com
plicated piece of machinery-a machine
crammed with other machines. with hun
dreds Of doors and such a labyrinth of
passages that it takes crew some weeks