The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-23
HsoulsrhIr NOT DANGEROUS
Ergiand's Fertilization. Are for Russia, Not
the Untted states.

| GuElnbut IorthMcnuOnc ARE Tor nun1int Not
the United states.
EsouIMALT. d O. July 1a.-Tho Sal, Francisco
newspapers are mistaken in supposIng that
this harbor Is being fortified and turned into
| q naval arsenal by England and Canada on ac-
count OF the dispute with the United States
| over seal killing in pehring Sea. The oficial
belief In British Columb ia Is that the tribunal
at Paris will give Its decision between the end
Of July and the middle Of August, and that tho
decision will be substantially adverse to the
claims OF Canada. The question does not ex-
cite much interest outside tho ring OF scaling
vessel owners. most OF whom. by tho way
are not British Columbians at all. but
renegade Americans, Germans. Hebrews
and citizens OF the world But the fortihca-
lions at Esquimalt have nothing In the least to
do with that controversy. They we're pro-
posed years before the sale OF Alaska and the
seal islands to the United States as protec-
ton to British interests In the Pacific against
Russia. At its last session the Dominion Par
Lament voted $4,000 to purchase site.
which will DO handed over to the British
engineering officers. who will carry on and
complete the rest OF the work at the expense
OF Great Britain. The British Parliament
recently appropriated $4,000 as first
vote for tho Job. Tho total cost may reach
100000 for tho engineers are constantly
changing their plans.
craving dock for war and merchant ves-
sells was built here few years ago by the
Dominion Government Before that vessels in
need OF repairs had to go to Marc Island. But
the first structure erected was naval hospi-
tai. put up during the Crimean war In 1854.
feet OF English and French war ships bonn
barded and landed q storminG party at Petro-
paulovski. the principal seaport of KAN
chatka. seven days steam from here. but mot
with severe rcpulse. The Admiral in COM
mand committed suicide. Tho wounded wore
brought to the hospital at EsIuimalt which
for long time was the only building in the
place. except q few Indian huts scattered
among the rocks.
Lord Palmerston was the first to suggest
TINT Es1uimalt should be fortified, but tho
proposal was not taken seriously until the
com letion OF the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
It is tho intention to provide frst-class mod
ern armament including submarine works
and a torpedo service Victoria, the capital OF
British Columbia Is only four miles on the
two harbors cutting into spit OF land. which
will be guarded by several cross batteries.
Esouimalt is the best harbor on the Pacific
coast with tho exception OF that OF San Fran
cisco. 1t forms an irregular circle about two
miles wide. with q depth OF seven or eight
fathoms. The Royal Roads. Just outside. could
accommodate fifty mon oi-war. Vancouver ISL
and and Victoria and Esquimalt are connect
ed by railroad with the mines at Nanaimo.
They are full Of excellent steam coal
1t is quite true that with Notifications at
Esquimalt and powerful feet on the spot
England could probably command tho Straits
OF Fuca and all the other waters within Cape
Flattory. including Puget Sound. Admiralty
Inlet. and tho intricate passages OF the San
Juan archipelago. against any ordina naval
demonstration on the part Of the United
States: but 1t may be well to repeat that the
sole object OF her operations at Esauimalt is
to establish q striking. place. as the French
would call 1t. in case OF war with Russia 1t
would be simply impossible for her to hold
Vancouver Island or the mainland OF
British Columbia II the United States
were determined to eject her from either or
both. no matter how much she might spend in
batteries and earthworks. A land force from
the United States could cut the Canadian Pa
ci1c at fifty points between here and tho Rocky
Mountains while large American squadron
could shut up EnGland's vessels in EsQui-
malt. knock Victoria to pieces. and block the
strait even without the help OF American guns
on the San Juan.
A collision between the United States and
England in these waters was avsrted in 1850
by the good sense Of a British Captain. A body
OF United States troops under Capt Pickett
had been landed on San Juan Island. the own
ership OF which was not determined until the
Emperor OF Germany's decision under tho
Washington treaty Of 1871. Sir James Doug
las an old Hudson's Bay Com pany official. was
Governor OF British Columbia. then a separate
Gro wn colony. and he took 1t into his head to
order Capt. G. +. Hornby OF the friGate Trib-
uns. thirty guns. to land and drive Pickett on
Fortunately. Hornby, now n wo!l-known Ad-
miral. refused to obey. and the British Gov
ernment complimented him on his wisdom.
The purchase OF Alaska and the Aleutlan
Islands by Mr. Seward. coupled with tho sur
render by England to the United States in
1876. as the outcome OF the Oregon contro-
versy. OF the Columbia River. ana tho whole
Pacific side Of tho continent UP to the 18th
parallel virtually put an end to. tho dream Of a
great British sutrapy dominating the Pacific
seapoard. British Colum bia Joined, the Ca
madam Pacific has been built to link her to the
eastern provinces. Asa matter OF fact. how
but with the Pacific States, and It is to Hmeri.
can capital and American enterprise that she
Looks for ths o. her
Esquimalt. few years ago he was sent to
HIssian war vessels freGuentiy visit Australia.
Officers OF the ship Vestnik we're caught not
deie dele s at Msl BOZ In report to The
British Government Iryon stated that there
was reason to believe that the entire eastern
coast Of Australia had been carefully mapped
at the instancs Of the naval autho tiles at
Cronstadt and vladiyostock. He recon mended
that defences should be fastened on that
coast. and also that Esquimalt should DO
made into strong naval station. so that the
British feet on the Pacific might have q lase
OF operations from which TO protect Australia.
as well as to act with tho feet in Chinese wa
tors against Vladivostock and PotropauovskL
Valdivostock commands Ukhotsk sen and the
Amoor and is very strongly fortified; EssGui.
Melbourne. and 1000 from Auckland.
Other British officers maintain that Esqui-
malt will be OF no value either for the protec- |
ton Of Australia or for attacking Russia in the
North Pacific They say that Nladivostock Is |
and the fogs which prevail on the route war
she could goJ within striking distance; in any |
event, the place Is more form dabe than Cron-
stadt or old SehRstopol. AMI could keep the |
largest ironslads at pay until the Arctic wiine,
to reach it. As. for PetropAulovski.
no Impression could 10 made upon it
Without the cooperation OF the British
China squadron. and the task would be impos,