M. VAMBERY'S OPINION OF THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7189, 15 June 1885, Page 3

M. VAMBERY'S OPINION OF THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

The following ia an extract from M. Arminius Vambery's article in the Egyerles, which ha 3 attracted considerable attention : — " Whatever Russian diplomatists and Continental newspaper i writers paid by Russia may say, it is an undoubted fact that Russia's present ' position in Central Asia forms bat a j temporary dearly-bought halting place on the way southwards. It has been costing her from 8,000,009 to 10,000,000 ( roubles annually. English statesman are very credulous, and bo easily ensnared by the Russians that there is good ground for the growing irritation and anxiety of the British nation. Eaoh day's delay must be injurious to the English by diminishing their chances in a war which, let the facts be blinked aa they . may by those who have an interest in blinking them, is inevitable. In a few years, Russia will penetrate into the proximity of ! Herat, partly by way of the Caspian Sea, partly from the left side of the ' Oxuß, by means of a railway through \ Merv. She will, in time, raise out of ] the Turkoman population a military force whioh will be able to vie with the renowned native regiments of India." , M. Vambery adds that he has obtained private intelligence that, already 5000 Turkoman horsemen, armed with European rifles, and drilled in the Russian manner, are ready for invasion, under the command of Colonel Lopatinsky. Finally, he declares that the Russians, by gaining time, will possibly Bucceed in winning over the Ameer of Afghauistan, to whom they will offer heavier subsidies than those which the English pay.