Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-02
STRATEGIC POINTS.
The Russian Center Of Operations-Eng.
lands Seizure Of Port Hamilton.


land and Russia should result in war, the Ash
attic coast Of Russia is likely to become the scene
OF great activity, If not of serious hostilities.
Vladivostock, which will in these circumstances
become the Russian center of operations, stands
On the Upper Japan sea, near the Chinese and
Corean frontier, in deep blight in the coast
line. 1t is fully 500 miles southwest of the
point where the AMOR river empties into the
Sea OF Okhotsk. Up to the time of the Crimean
war, a large portion of the lower Amoor valley
belonged nominally to China, but the Russians
had established themselves at the mouth of
chance to extend and consolidate their
authority. In 1853, by the treaty of Aigun,
China ceded to Russia the left bank of the
Amoor river down to the confluence of the
Usur1, and below that point both banks. This
treaty was afterwards disayowed by the
France and England, whose armies occupied
Picking, enabled Gen. Ignatief to obtain a sec
ond treaty in November, 1860, which confirm
ed his sovereign in possession OF the territories
above named, and more infinitely defined the
boundaries. This acquisition of territory" said
writer in the Edinburgh ReUieao twelve years
ago. "magnificent it was in the vast extent of
country thereby added to the Russian domin-
ions, had it's chief value-for the moment at
least-in the fact of its comforting the long-co-
Xeted advantages of accessible harborS on the
Pacific in comparatively temperate latitude,
where navigation is impeded by ice for at the
most three or four months during the year. The
Southernmost quito the newly-ceded region,
lying In n latitude AZ deg NJ contains numerous
now the southern boundary of Russia in these
parts, and divided its province from the king
dom of Corea. The territory has been finally
rounded off and completed, as it We're by the
treaty Of Japan, made in 1876, by which the
latter cedes to Russia, in exchange for the ku-
rlie Islands, the southern portion of the great
island of Saghalien.
Vladivostock, which lies near the southern
point OF the territory thus acquired, stands on
one OF the finest harbOrS in the world. with
anchorage for so or 20 ships of war and 300
merchantmen. There is an outer anchorage,
Eastern Bosphorus From this runs direct
to the right the inner harbor, called the
Golden Horn, after less convenient, if more
three miles long, and not much above half
mile wide. The largest ships can ride within
few yards of the shore; The peculiar form
and batteries easy. The town which has
sprung up stretches horizontally along the
Of single long street running north and
south. The houses, which are all of wood,
are not too numerous, and any increase to the
small fixed population creates a house-famine
at once. The civil population is not large, and
Is composed principally OF Chinese and Man
choos, who are credited by the Russian officers
with being, in general, fugitives from justice. A
large number OF female convicts from European
Russia are also settled there. The necessaries
and Manchuria, are dear, but the great neces-
sity of warlike operatons-coai-isa available in
case of blockade, as there is a seam of coal near
by, although not of the best quality. EXten-
sive dry docks have been lately constructed
there by the Russian government and as in
dicated In our dispatches to-day the harbor
has been effectually closed to hostile Ships bv
the judicious arrangement of torpedoes. The
harbor is free from ice during ten months of
the year.
While Russia has been concentrating stores
and warlike appliances at Vladivostock, Eng
lana has made countermove by the seizure
OF Port Hamilton, some 600 miles to the south,
which commands the Corean strait, the south
ern entrance to the Sea of Japan. The Nan
Haw group of islands consists of two large
islands SOHO and SnnhO6n
island called Observatory Island. The larger
islands are deeply indented, their northern
Is situated between their southern points. form
ing the spacious and well-sheltcred harbor
known as Port Hamilton the main entrance to
which Is In the southeastern part of the group
This entrance will admit vessels of the greatest
draught while the northern entrance, $50 yards
wide, may be used by small vessels in fine
weather. The holding ground is excellent, and
there Is room in the harbor for a large fleet.
Port Hamilton is SO we'll protected that it affords
shelter in the worst weather.
Sodo, the larger of these islands, is $50 feet
high, and Sunhodo Is 1913 feet. They both pre-
sent rugged, bold sides on either side of the en-
trance, and, if fortified, in connection, with OBJ
servatory Island, could be defended against any
force. There are several Corean villages on
these islands containing about 1000 people
Every available spot is cultivated, the princi-
pal crop being millet. Port Hamilton is over
thirty miles off the main Corean coast and
forty miles north OF the large island of Quel-
b.; occupying these islands England has re-
moved her base OF supplies in the event of war,
over 900 miles nearer to Nladivostok, as Port
Hamilton is only 14O miles from Nagasaki,
where the ineXhaustible coal mines are being
worked, she can, wi thin two weeks, make a
depot of coal which will last her fleet for
months. Sufficient supplies can also be gath
cred in a short time from Hong Kong and the
independent of neutrals after war is declared.
The English fleet will not only guard the Co
rean strait but can gather at Port Hamilton for
any descent upon the Russian possessions in
Siberia. With the Corean strait thus guarded,
and one or two ironclads III the Straits of La
Perouse and Tsugar, the Russian fleet will be
practically confined to the Sea OF Japan, and no
vessel can escape to prey upon English COM
laerce.
government to seize upon Port Hamilton are
thus made plain. The Russian cruisers in the
Sea of Japan must remain there, and those out
in the North Pacific will be kept from reaching
their base of supplies. What Corea thinks Of
Englands action is quite an unimportant mat
ter, without the treaty powers interpose some
objections. Japan will certainly be disguised
to find that she has such powerful neighbour
and China will be equally indignant when she
realizes that England is almost one thousand
thorn in her side for many years, and Port
Hamilton will be even sharper one.
--<O>-----
Found One Man Not a Candidate.
From the Chicago News
"Good morning. May I ask where you are
FROM"
81 am from Chicago, sir"
''Oh! Then presume you are a candidate for
United States Marshal Jones place."
mo, sir; am not"
"What not u candidate in any sense?"
mo, sir; not in any sense
eyes, sir. am United States Marshal Jones.
Gen. Grant Not Writer.
T. G. Crawford in New York World.
Another false idea of Gen. Grant is given out
by some of his friends, and that is that he is