The telegram from our London correspondents announcing that according to report no fewer than forty-five Russian warships were to proceed to the Far East in the course of a fow months, is one which throws " light on the preparations which Russia is making to achieve the Czar's announced intention. of punishing the Japanese a hundred-fold for their alleged treachery at Port Arthur on the night of the 8th ult. Reuter's tole-grams have informed us that the small Russian squadron which left Europe in January was after the Port Arthur engagoment recalled, but if that be so news of its arrival in home waters is about due. The announcement that an armeds of forty-five ships is to come out. to the Far East may be intended for Japanese consumption, but we may take the announcement for what it is worth and speculate. as to the ships which Russia would be likely to send. The mention of June as the date of sailing indicates that notwithstanding the feverish haste with which Russia has for some time past been advancing her preparations for war she is not yot ready. According to the information which we are able to glean from the latest English papers received, Russia was straining every nerve to have her four new battleships of the Borodine class ready for service by the summer. The Alexander III was already half through her trials; the Borodine and Suvarov were beginning theirs; and the Orel was to enter upon her trials in the spring.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.