The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-25
FROM BALTIC TO BLACK SEA
Russia VIII Build Ship Canal FOL
Strategic Purposes

New York, Dec PA special from
Washington says:
The Russian government will begin
next spring upon a stupendous piece of
railroad. viii be of great stragetic and
commercial value when completed.
The project contemplat tes the construc-
ton OF a canal connecting the Baltic
and Black seas which can be traversed
by battleships of the heaviest tonnage
at six knots per hour. By means of this
canal Russian will be able to mobilize
huge fleet in the Baltic in 167 hours
by bringing to that sea the Black sea
squadron, or can collect in the Black
sea in the same time the Baltic and
Black sea fleets. In case of a general
European war over the division OF China
at the time of the completion of the
canal it would not be a difficult matter
for Russia to send her fleet through the
Bosphorus. the sea of Marmora and the
Derdanelles into the Mediterranean.
down the Suez canal, across the Indian
ocean to China, while she could utilize
the Trans-Siberian railroad to trans
port troops. The canal will remove the
necessity of sending a fleet across the
North sea and down the Atlantic in or
der to reach the Mediterranean and
through that sea reach the Suez canal
and China and it is pointed out that in
case of war Great Britain or Germany
would take measures 30 see that the
Russian fleet did not pass through their
bari ctruCClp
1t is officially stated here that The
canal when completed will connect the
city Of Riga on the aBltic and Cherson,
on the Black sea. Advantage viii be
taken Of the Dwina river. at the mouth
OF which Riga is located, and of the
Dneiper river, which flows into the
Black sea at the mouth Of which Cher
son sits It has been estimated by the
Russian engineer that 10 connect the
two rivers, 125 miles of excavation must
be made. The length OF the canal viii
be a thousand miles. II viii have an
average depth Of pa feet. The cost Of
the work will be S97, 900 600 and II must
be completed by 1902.
II is frankly admitted Dy the Russian
authorities that the canal Is being
Trans-Siberian road is being c0ns.ructei,
but they say the water way VIII be OF
benefit commercially. The wheat raised
in the southern part of Russia near the
Black sea and the coal and petroleum
obtained from the section can be trans
ported more cheaply to markets than by
railroads o. steamer going through the
Bosphorus inso the Mediterranean. Six
teen cities are situated along the route
OF the proposed canal sn1 they Will be
benefited by its construction.
Russian maintains 4 formidable feet
OF bastleships and cruisers in she Black
sea-" said a we'll known naval com
man5er. such action being in violation
Of the provisions Of she Berlin treaty.
The construction Of the canal viii mean
thar this fleet can be reinforced within
seven days Al the utmost by an equally
formidable fleet from the Baltic and in
case Of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT q Turkey.
0r a necessity for large force Of naval
vessels in Asiaiic waserS. Russia would
be able to ge. her reinfo7cener1s 70 that
section ahead OF any other European
government which would be compelled
u use the Atlantic ocean and TIE Med
iterraaean sea. 81 lar as Turkey and
China are concerned the completion -
the Russian canal viii place the ear in
Il position which VIII De enviei by ali
other European governments"
Yokohama. Dec. 2A-on the re-assem-
bling % parliament today the Aika5o
declared that he relations OF japan VITA
all he foreign powers were friendly. His
Majes;y announced the intention Of the
government ID initiate fresh taxation
methods and 70 introduce q bill amend
ing the codes. Nc reference was made in
the speech from ths throne 10 tne 2ras-
snt situation