Russia Increases Its Navy
By Editor
The Russian Government has decided to spend 87,500,000 rubles during the coming year in the increase and perfecting of her navy. The setting aside this immense sum ($67,375,000) in a single year has astonished the whole world, especially Europe. Russia already possesses a powerful navy, but she seems determined not to be left behind in the race of the powers for maritime supremacy. It is also significant that she has chosen a year to make this large appropriation when England is more or less tied up with the Boers in South Africa. English and Russian interests are clashing in China, Persia, Afghanistan, and Northern India, and it seems very evident that Russia is planning a move in which she expects to need the entire resources of her realm—notwithstanding the Peace Congress. This large appropriation seems the more remarkable when we remember the grounds upon which Russia based the call for that conference,—the inability of the people to continue bearing the burdens of taxation, which the great armaments of the nations made necessary. In spite of this, and in spite of the fact that between fifteen and twenty millions of her people have been on the verge of starvation for the past two years, Russia adds this further burden to her groaning people. She is preparing, as are all the nations, for that supreme struggle which will close earth's history of sin, misery, and war.