Sin,—In your leading article on the war in the Spectator
of December 10th you say : "It seems to us far more likely that the Russian Fleet, whatever happens, will now attempt to make its way to Vladivostok." Is not this written in forget- fulness of the fact that no ship can approach Vladivostok within sixty miles for ice—and this will be the case till May— and that the Tsugaru Strait is also closed by ice ? If the Russian Fleet persists on its voyage, and should defeat the Japanese, who are waiting for it off Formosa, the Admiral must seek an ice-free base. The best of such possible bases would be Port Hamilton, a small island easily defensible, and possessing an excellent harbour. From this coign of vantage the Russians (once in command of the sea) could atop all communication between Japan and Korea and Manchuria, and also harass the coasts and ports of Japan. They would doubtless obtain supplies through Kia.o-chow, Shanghai, and other Chinese ports. In view of such an eventuality, would it not be desirable for Great Britain practically to reoccupy Port Hamilton, a place of which we formerly had possession, and so prevent its being made a base for the Russian Fleet ?
—I am, Sir, &c., GEO. BLAME WALKER. Tankersley Grange, near Barnsley.
[To occupy Port Hamilton in the circumstances suggested would be an act of war directed against Russia which we are in no way called upon to commit by our Treaty with Japan. —En. Spectator.]
" CLERISY."
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