The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-26
RovAt plrLns READY.
Esuuirialt Harbor to Be Strongly De-
Tended

porarily in California and now at the
Palace, from an officer in the British
navy, which seems to indicate that
Great Britain, in case the Boring Sea
difficulty is not decided to suit her,
may resort to arms Troops have been
ordered to hold themselves in readi
ness, while other troops and warships
have been ordered forward to Victoria
Esquimalt and Vancouver
The letter states, among other things,
that cautionary orders have been is
sued to the Fourth Battalion of the
Royal Rife Brigddes, now at Devon
port, south of England, consisting of
1000 men, to hold themselves in read.
ness to leave at any time for Victoria,
on Colonial station duty.
The officer, who is a leading one in
the British navy, asks what the climate
is at Esquimalt and Victoria, and what
clothing it will be necessary to take
there. The Englishman who has re-
ceived the letter is, it may be stated,
an intimate friend of the officer, hav-
ing known him a long while. The
former is very wealthy man, and has
been in different parts of the East,
British Columbia and California for
some months. AT present he is here
in regard to a purchase of large i'm
portance.
"The rifle brigade alluded to is with
the Sixtieth Kings Royal Rifles"
said the gentleman yesterday, "the
most active service regiment of Her
Majestys Household Brigade, and each
consists of four battalions of 1000 men
each. They are particularly famous
for having seen more active service
than any other two regiments in the
British army.
'In addition to this the letter states
that her majesty's ship Minotaur, one
of the most powerful battle ships in
the British navy, has also been especi,
ally commanded for general duty at
Esquimalt. The commander of that
vessel has been appointed naval com
mandant, and the colonel of the Royal
Brigade has been appointed military
commandant of the station, succeeding
the present dock yard superintendent
of Esquimalt and Colonel Pryor Of the
Canadian forces, who have hitherto
held these posts.
1.-TWO battaions of Royal Marine
Artillery are also under orders, my
letter continues, for station duty al
Victoria and Vancouver, and it is
understood that the Canadian author.
tiles are taking steps to thoroughly
overhaul and place in the most de
feasible condition the Notifications al
those places, in accordance with the
recent recommendation of Genera
Herbert, the COMMANDMENT Chief.
"Her maiesty's ship Minotaur anc
the flagship Alexandria, it will be re
membered," pursued the gentleman
''took a very prominent part in the
bombardment of Alexandria in 1883
Taking these arrangements, with the
subsidy granted to the Canadian Pacific
Railway by the Imperial Government
for the speedy transportation of troops
in case of emergency, it may. be con
sidered that the North Pacific station
will be in stronger position than any
othsr point in the British colonial do
minion.
at will be recalled that about weel
ago Her Majesty's ship Royal Arthu
arrived at Esquimalt, with Admira
Stevenson aboard. The Arthur is ont
of the most powerful vessels of th'
British navy. The feature of the orde
to vessels, however, will be seen il
reference to the Minotaur. She ha
been specially detailed fer the use u
Esouimalt harbor, and is not attached
to the fleet, but is stationary"
The question at this time is, VIII,
is all this being done? Evldentl
something more than usual is on hand
and the gentleman who has received
the letter holds to the same view
Something is believed to be in tn
wind. 1t will be recalled that two @
three weeks ago, during the session c
the Behring sea tribunal, Sir Charlie
Russell, in abiding to the posslbllit
of the final decision being unfavorabl
to Great Britain, said the decisio
might be moral obligation, but not
legal one. For this Baron Courcell'
president of the tribunal, sharply re
buked him. 1t may be the Behrin
sea matter, and it would seem that it il
that is causing Great Britain to MOI
strongly fortify the northern harbor.
The Royal Arthur was launched ;
Portsmouth on February 26, 1891,
great crowd, the Queen and most
the royal family being present III
Royal Arthur is a screw cruiser of TIC
tons, 1900 horse-powe and carrie
twelve guns. Her name was original
Centaur, but it was changed by ord
of the Duke of Connaught, and final
at the last moment, by the Queen
command, to the Royal Arthur ST
is of the latest type of first class cruise
and has a speed Of twenty knots
The Minotaur is an iron broadsiC
ship of 10000 tons displacement ar
49, ;nl,catad hOrce mower She h