A SENSATIONAL SPEECH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2050, 30 January 1889, Page 3

A SENSATIONAL SPEECH

».. At a banquet given on tbe 3rd November at Warsaw by General Gourko, the provincial Governor-General, In honor of Count Bohuvaloff, the Russian Ambassador In Berlin, tbe General proposed a " sensational" toast, which, «»ys the Vienna correspondent of the " D^ily Telegraph," according to the version that has reßohed Cracow, was as follows : " The Ambassador assures us that a pacific tendency prevails everywhere. As governor of this province I rejoice thereat, but as a soldier I am not Inclined to sheath my sword. Notwithstanding the peaceful policy of our Government, there is a very warlike spirit In ■ the neighbouring countries. - Tbelr Press excites public opinion against us ; their military authorities speak with soorn of the Inefficiency of our army, tbe slowness of-our system of mobilisation, and our lack of able officers—ln faot, they discount our defeat. They had,' however, better not go too far, beoause In that case the Czir may give tbe order to msroh, and we shall then cross the frontier without mobilising, within twenty-four hours. I do not under-estlmate the advantages possessed by other armies, bat I maintain — not M a Russian patriot but as soldier — that no troops can compare with onr own I do not deny that Austria has brilliant artillery and Germany admirable tactics, but the Russian has ardour and determination to vanquish all difficulties. In that respect tbe Turkish soldle-y alone can be, but only to a certain extent, oompared with ours; but why waate words ? Whenever the right time oomes our deeds will be worthy of us. All I have to add Is that we already know the roads to Vienna aod Berlin. I drlrk to our brave army 1' Tbe same correspondent adds : Agents of the Russian Government are just now displaying the utmost activity both In Servia and among the Roumanian peisan try. They enoounter difficulties m ServU, bnt they are doing much mischief In Roumania. If the revolutionary agitation In Russia continues to spread an aouta Eastern crisis is extremely probable There are unquestionably fresh elemenli of trouble In the Balkan Peninsula, and the next disturbances are likely to occur nearer to tbe Austrian frontier than Bulgaria.