Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-05-15

~ LsEsAsLE PessI.
[Correspondence New York slal

Correspondence New York San.
Sks FRsNolsoo, April 25.-The alarm
Of the inhabitants Of the pretty and
thriving little town Of Victoria, British
Colnmbia. which Is entirely anpro-
tecsed against raid of Russiai, cruis-
ers, y not unreasonable. Within twelve
days steaming distance Of the Russian
naval station on the Asiatie coast, and
lying within range of the guns Of a
modern war ship manCauvred on the
open waters OF tbs Straits of Fnca, the
constructiou OF works for the defence
OF Victoria has been entirely neglected
by the British and Canadian govern
meuts. The approach to tho town
whafyes OF Victoria Is by q narrow and
intricate channel, which can only be
nevigated safely by vessels of moderate
tonnage but as the center of the town
ls little more than mile from the outer
roads. with good landing places at sew
eral points. the intricaciss Of the har-
Dor channel inteFpose but Q slight bar
rier to attacks from q hosiila force.
Three miles from Victoria harbar 10 the
harbof Of Esquinalt, the only British
naval station on the Pscific Coast Of
America. Esquinlalt Is one of the
safest and most pioturesqse harbors in
the world, about three miles IN length,
with depth Of watff upon which the
largest ironolaGi ships OF war can safely
noat, surrounded by low wooded hills,
With marrow bat deep entranse from
Fuca Straits Esquimalt is, after San
Francisco, the best harbor on The west
coast OF North America. A large naval
craving deck Is well advanced toward
completion at the upper end OF the har.
Dor, and small deckyard Is near the
entrance. Yet, strange to say, this i'm
portant naval station has never been
fortified. In the absence Of British
war ships from the harbor there Is lite
rally nothing to prevent an ordinary
steamer, armed with one rified gun,
from steaming in and destroying the
dcekyard buildings, the craving dock
and the village OF Esquimait.
The indifference of the Bsitish Gov
eminent TO the defenseless oondision of
their only naval station on the North
Pacific, can only be explained On the
presumption that the Admiralty In
tended that one or more efficient eruis-
ers Of the British Pacific feet should
always be In the harbor. In iihe sum
mer months the flagship and several of
the smaller vessels de 90 up from the
coasts OF south and Central America,
and refit at Esquimalt; bot az other
times, and particularly during the last
three years, the harbor has often been
deserted by the naval ships, and left en-
tireiy unprotected. The value uf Esqui-
malt 10 the British navy III all The
greater from the fact that II h the
point where It's ships must assemble to
guard the coal mines on Vancouver
Island. from which in war times the
tiritish naval steamers in the North
Pacific must draw their supplies Of coal.
The coal ports Nanairno aRd Departure
Bias, are eighty miles north ,,f Esqui-
malt and Victoria; they are reached By
vay Of the Haro Straits and Gulf Of
Georgia, wide and deep channels be-
tween Vancouver and the mainland,
Pass San Juan and the other isiands Of
the Washington Archipelago belonging
70 the United States. The mines az De-
partnre Bay are Of VERY great value, the
output beine nearly 1000 tons per day,of
he best coal yet discovered upon the
Pacific coast; for steamship use 10 IL
claimed 10 be- second enly 10 the be
Welsh coal. Il 10 no unnsual sight 10
$50 four or ive steam and fifteen 10
twenty sailing coiliers Ading coal at
Dspar .ure Bay for San Francisco and
other Pacific pcrts.
10 the ahsence ftam British Columbi-
an waters Of q British naval force Of SUI
psrior ssrsneth and speed, 10 would be
an easy exploit fos Russian crusief of
the Strslok class 70 make dash upon
Esquimalt and Victoria, destroy the
dock, dockyafd and stores at the for
mef place, and the great wafshouse 81 the
Hadson Bay Company ~ Victoria, and
ell The eolsnial and British steamers ct
ihe wharvee, then run up 10 Departure
Bay aud NAnMimu. load up with coal,
destroy all the vharves and machinery
for load 3 coal. capture one OF too
more British steam cnlliers, and keep
On nsssh saroaeh ne insids passass, via
Seymour Narrows, 70 Queen Charlotte
Sound, and cut into the f'aesfs Ocsan
zsHnaa The north end OF yancsnves. II
49, ~ 1mHnrnx IN Elfrl;xh cruisers