GENERAL SKOBELOFF'S SPEECH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 4642, 13 April 1882, Page 2

GENERAL SKOBELOFF'S SPEECH.

The following were the remarks by General Skobeloff at Paris, which set all the Continent by the ears :—"lf: — "If Russia does not always show herself equal to her patriotic duties in general, and to her Slav rdle in particular, it is because both within and without she is held in check by a foreign influence. We are not at home in our own house. The foreigner is everywhere, and his hand is everything. We are the dupes of his policy, the victim of his intrigues, the slaves of his power. We are dominated and paralysed to such an extent bj his innumerable and disastrous influences that if we are to deliver ourselves from them as I hope we shall some day or other, it can only be done by us sword in hand. And if you wish to know the name of this foreigner, this intruder and intriguer, this enemy so dangerous to Russian and Slavs, I will name him. It is the German. I repeat it, and I beg you will never forget it. The enemy is the German. A struggle between the Slav and the Teuton is inevitable. It will be long, sanguinary, and terrible, but the Slav will triumph. >y General Skobeloff added :— " If anyone attempts to molest the States recognised, thank goodness you will not be alone j if fate should so decide we shall meet again on the battle-field side by side against the common enemy. " Although the General denies that he used the violent language attributed to him, the France insists on the accuracy of the report, and adds that the speech was delivered in French, General Skobeloff at the outset expressing his regret that he could not speak to the Servians in a common Slav tongue, '• which," he said, "we require just as we do common action." The speech, notwithstanding the General's attempt to extenuate it, has produced a deep impression at Paris, and a very much deeper one at Berlin, seeing that on the Stock Exchange of that city it has caused a fall in Russian paper. The Emperor William has expressed the deepest indignation and sorrow at the Russian General s utterances. His Majesty remarked that he had hoped to enjoy the remaining years of his old age in peace, and it was the source of the profoundest regret to him to have to expesience such wanton provocations, which, if continued, would compel him in the end to resort to energetic measures. An official disclaimer of the speech has been published in Russia. It treats the utterance as merely that of a private person, whioh in no way binds the Government, and cannot, therefore, affect relations with other States.