MONTENEGRO BEGINS WAR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 5

MONTENEGRO BEGINS WAR.

BISHOP BLESSES THE FLAG.

FIRST SHOTS FIRED ADD TONS AND CHURCH BELLS.

TURKISH FORT SILENCED.

By Telegraph—Press AeEOciatlon-GonsTteht

(Reo. October 12, 0.20 a.m.) London, October 12. Advices from Podgoritza, Montenegro, stale that war has begun with Turkoy, King Nicholas and the Montenegrin Royal Princes, with a brilliant staff, attended the little church at Podgoritza to witness the Bishop bless the Standard. The first shots were fired amid the singing of Montenegrin hymns, and the ringing of church bells. Podgoritza is the centre of a splendid system of macadimised roads, Early on Thursday the Montenegrins resumed the bombardment of Detchitch, a detached hill which is strongly fortified, and covers the entrance to Turmli. The battery was silenced at 11 o'clock. Meanwhile heavy fighting took place at Tusi, a Turkish frontier village near by, where there is a garrison of about two thousand men. The result is not known. Tusi. commands the road to Scutari, where the garrison is reported to number 12,500, in addition to Essab Pasha's five thousand men. ■ Tusi offers the only opportunity for serious Turkish resistance within fifty miles of the frontier. The natural obstacles to the Montenegrin operations are the small rivers running into Lake Scutari. Otherwise they have a clear road running into a plain three miles wide. King Nicholas has long coveted Scutari, but if he annexes it he is likely to offend Austria, owing to the latter's protectorate of the Catholic Albanians. TURKS SURRENDER. MONTENEGRINS CAPTURE FOUR ; GUNS. HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. (Rec. October 11, 11.10 p.m.) London, October 11. Tho Montenegrin troops at Podgoritza silenced a fortified mountain position at Detchitoh. The Turkish garrison surrendered with four guns. There were heavy losses on both sides. GENEEAL COMMITS SUICIDE. Cetinje, October 10. All men between the ages of 18 and 50 years have joined the army. Prince Peter, youngest son of King Nicholas, opened the campaign by firing a shot against the Turkish fortification at Tusi, near the Montenegrin frontier. Before the battle, the general commanding at Podgoritza committed suicide, fearing that the King's presence meant that he nad been superseded. Ten battalions of Turkish infantry and five thousand Bashi Bazouks are advancing through the Saltchi defile to the relief of Scutari. A Salonika message states tKal Essad Pasha, commanding the Scutari column, passed the River Bojana, and entered Montenegrin territory unopposed. .VILLAGES ABLAZE. ;f Vienna, Ootober 10. Albanian villages northward of the Bojana River, eeparating Montenegro and Turkey, are ablaze. Many Albanians have taken refuge in Scutari. Tho Montenegrins fired their rifles for upwards of an hour at an Austrian steamer proceeding from the Bojana to Cattaro, Austria. Shell was likewise fired. RUSSIA AID ALLEGED. Berlin, October 10. Several newspapers criticise Russia, believing that ehe is behind Montenegro. They accuse Eussia of mobilising in Poland, under the pretest that it is' only a test mobilisation. This Eussia denies. HOW MONTENEGRO WAS DRILLED. London, October 10. The "Daily Chronicle's" Constantinople correspondent eays ho witnessed at Cetinje a month ago active mobilisation preparations under a Eussian general and four assistants lent by Eussia. "WE WANT WAR I" EXCITEMENT IN CONSTANTINOPLE. STUDENTS HISS MINISTEE. (Bee. October 11, 11.10 p.m.) Constantinople, October 11. Five thousand students, all armed with revolvers, forced their way, despite the troops, into the Grand Hall at the Sublime Porte. The Minister for Marine left the Council and addressed the students, explaining. that tho application of Article XXIII of the Treaty of Berlin did not mean the granting of autonomy. The students hissed excitedly while the Minister was speaking. He added that the longer war was delayed the better for Turkey.

The students replied by calling: "Down with the Berlin Treaty! Wo want wbt!" The Grand Vizier also spoke. TURKISH TROOPS ANGRY. Constantinople, October 10. Army mobilisation in the Balkans continues steadily, notwithstanding the mutual exchange of views concerning the Powers' representations. Shots have been exchanged between outposts at Kilsura, south-west of Tsaribrod, Bulgaria. Five thousand Rayahs (non-Moslems) in Turkey have paid the Treasury a tax of £10 each to escape military service. At Salonika the army is angry at the Cabinet's acceptance of the reforms of 1880. Meetings of protest are being held. Immenso enthusiasm regarding tho war is being shown in Albania. Tho Albanian leaders state that they have one hundred thousand men, and are able alone to defeat the Servians and Montenegrins. SERVIA BOYCOTTS AUSTRIA. Belgrade, October 10. Prince Georgo of Servia has asked his father to givo him command of a regiment. The Prince, who is 25 years of age, has led a wild life, and in 1300 renounced his right of succession in favour .of a younger brother,,

A boycott has been declared against Austrian goods, as a protest against Austria's favourable attitude towards Turkey.

POWERS AND REFORMS.

REFUSES TO JOIN BULGARIA. London, October 10. The Bukarest correspondent of "The Times" states that Rumania has tendered Bulgaria explicit assurances regarding her neutrality in the event of war with Turkey. Hβ adds that Bulgaria endeavoured, without success, in September last, to secure the co-operation of Rumania, recalling the consideration, shown by Bulgaria in November, 1910. SEIZURE OF GREEK STEffMERS. A BRITISH PROTEST. London, October 10. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, hfls telegraphed to tho Porte, pointing out that detention of Greek vessels cannot be justified by international lan , , and that inasmuch as British interests are affected, Britain must strictly preserve all her rights similarly with other Powers. PURCHASE OF A CRUISER. RIVAL BIDDERS. London, October 10. Greece and Turkey are- competing for tho purchase of tho Chinese cruiser Chnmbo, building at the Elswick Works, and now ready for her steam trials, BRITISH LIBERAL VIEWS. REFORM MUST BE EFFECTIVE. London, October 10, Wie Liberal Parliamentary. Party's Folk

ENERGETIC NOTE TO TURKEY. AUSTRO-RTJSSIAN ENTENTE. (Eeo. October 11, 11.10 p.m.) Constantinople, October 11. The Embassies have tent a collective Note to the Porte couched in energetic, but not in threatening terms, declaring their intention to discuss the realisation of reforms in Asia, the Treaty and the declarations of the International Commission of 1880.

"DISINTERESTED ACTION." (Bee. October 11, 11.10 p.m.) Vienna, October 11. Negotiations are pending between Austria and Russia, aiming nt a policy of disinterested action based on the understanding that the Sanjak of Novi Bazar remains Turkish. Count Berclvtold, in addressing the Austrian Delegation, stated that the exercise of the Emperor's protectorate over the Catholics of Albania was difficult, owing to the prevailing excitement. BULGARIA UNABLE TO WITHDRAW. Sofia, October 10. M. Ivan Gueshoff, Premier of Bulgaria, in an interview, said the proposals of the Powers were unsatisfactory, as they gave no guarantees. Bulgaria had spent so much that she could not withdraw without getting something substantial in return. M. Gueshoff said he did not despair of peace at the eleventh hour. Tho exchange of views between Greece and Serr via would continue. AUSTRIA'S VITAL INTERESTS. Vienna, October 10. In thanking the Hungarian Delegation for a vote of confidence, Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, said the Monarchy had associated itself ■with the great Powers to preserve the status quo in the Balkans, where Austria had vital interests which she was determined to defend. COMPLETE AUTONOMY .URGED. Constantinople, October 10. There are rumours that the Powers are taking further steps to restrain the Balkan States and stop Montenegro from further fighting.

The French, and Russian Ambassadors have urged the Porte to grant complete autonomy in Macedonia in order to avoid war. HARROWING STORIES. TURKISH EXCESSES IN EPIRUS, (Rec. October 11, 11.10 p.m.) Athens, October 11. Harrowing accounts are being received of excesses by Turko-Albanian brigands in Epirus (Southern Albania). The brigands have been burning down homes and terrorising Christians.

GERMAN FRIENDSHIP. ACCOMMODATION FOR TURKEY'S WOUNDED. (Reo. October 11, 11.10 p.m.) Berlin, OctoHer 11. The Kaiser has ordered the German Embassy at Constantinople to place several floors at the disposal of Turkey's wounded. Turkey has accepted the offer with gratification. KING OF GREECE RETURNS. COMPLAINTS OF BRITAIN'S ATTI- . TUDB. Athens, October 10. King George of Greece was accorded an ovation on his return from Copenhagen, where he had been on. a visit. The King and the Premier, M. Venezelos, delivered pacifio and restrained speeches. Tho newspapers complain bitterly of Great Britain's alleged pro-Turkish attitude. AUSTRIAN PRECAUTIONS. LARGE FORCE CONCENTRATED. Paris, October 10. It is reported that Austria-Hungary has concentrated 125,000 troops in BosniaHerzegovina. Thirty French aeroplaues have gone to the Balkan States within the past fortnight. RUMANIA NEUTRAL.

THE PREDOMINANT PARTNER,

"AUSTRIA AND THE BALKANS,

CHAOS IN ALBANIA. MURDERERS, ROBBERS, AND TniEVES AT LARGE. The Uskub correspondent of the "IColnisclio Zeiliing" paints the situation in Albania in very gloomy colours. "Since the' departure of -the Albanians from Uskiib, ho says, "almost all Government authority in tho vilayet of Kosovo has ceased. Tile conditions in Albania simply beggar description. AH tho prisons- have been opened,'and thousands of murderers, robbers, and thieves have been released ami are sweeping tho country from ono end to tho other, intensifying (ho insecurity to an incredible degree. Of authority there is no longer any trace. All tho power of the Government has been abolished as completely n 5 could be, nnd'only Albanian laws and Albanian arbitrariness prevail. The military stores have been plundered, and not only arms, but also unifnnne, boots, tenta, even cooking utentils .haw baen carried off, Kaimakamv

eign Affairs Group, dncluding Sir William f

Byles ami Mr. Arthur Ponsonby, resolved (hat no settlement of the Balkans trouble would bo satisfactory unless definite guarantees of effective reform in Macedonia wero forthcoming from Turkey. GEEEK STEAMEES COMMANDEERED. London, October 10. Several Greek steamers hnvo been commandeered at Cardiff to transport to Greece Greek Reservists resident iu England, MONTENEGRO AND THE POWERS. ANNUAL GRANTS FROM RUSSIA. The time is past (says an English exchange) when a statesman like Lord Palmerston could applaud "with both hands" the chastisement of tho Montenegrin, "rebels" by the Sultan's troojw. Montenegro has long been regarded as one of the main pivots of the situation in the Balkans, and tho present revelations are only calculated to enhance King Nikitia's diplomatic reputation. I'ew rulers have mown better how to make full use of their position than this descendant of the old Petrovitch Nyogosh. His .close relations with tlie Russinn Court aro notorious. The' late Tsar Alexander 111, called him in 1889 "the only friead of Eussia," and two of his daughters aro married into ttio Russian Imperial family. Montenegro has no War Budget, because everything is supplied by Russia, and since 1897 Nikita has l)een in receipt of i£17,500 per annum out of the Tsar's own private purse. Similar relations subsist between Nikita and Italy. Queen Elena of Italy is Nikita's fourth daughter, and presents similar to those from Eussia frequently arrive at Cetinje from Rome. A number of Montenegrin enterprises such as the navigation of the Scutari Lake and the tobacco monopoly are in Italian hands, and tho Italian high schools are open to young Montenegrins of both sexes. But Austria, too, has always been courting Montenegro, supplying her ruler with various "comforts," including, as wo now know, a yearly subsidy and loans. Even Abdul Hamid, tho prisoner at the Villa Allatini, could tell an interesting talc of private favours bestowed by him upon the ruler of Montenegro in past times. Thus everybody has been courting King Nikita, but it now appears that only Austria has been enjoying reciprocity. The reason for ithls is not far to seek. Perched on her high and bare mountains, Montenegro has been suffocating within her narrow confines. "The Turks," said Nikita to tho Emperor Francis Joseph ail their meeting at Cattaro on the ere of the Russo-Turkish War, "tho Turks have taken my land and the Austrians have taken tho sea. There is nothing left for mo but tho sky." Since then Montenegro has received an extension of her tern-' tory, but how insufficient it has been is proved by the extensive emigration of Montenegrins to America, and by the fact that the results of the last census havo not even been published for fear of woundin? the susceptibilities of the people. King Nikita has long hoped that Russia might be able to help her out of her desperate situation. She rendered her powerful assistance in tho war with Turkey, and received, indeed, by tho Treat)' of San Stefano, a very considerable accession of territory at the expense of Herzegovina, Novi-Bazar, and Albania, but tho proceedings at the Berlin Congress showed that Eussia, though willing, was unable to guarantee her tho new possassions. Tho Congress cut down the extension in the north and left Montenegro only the Podsoritrsa and Antivari districts, together with, the plains of Plava and Gusmyo. But even this proved Dead Sea fruit owing to tho opposition of the Albanians, who with arms in their hands expelled the Montenegrins from Plava and Gusinye, and forced the Congress to substitute for them the districts to the north of Scutari. And then, as at Scutari too, the Albanian tribes rose in arms in the maritime district of Dulcig-no. Throughout these proceedings Russia, showed herself to be a much weaker Power than her Austrian rival, supported as the latter was by.Britain and Bismarck, and the course of events since then 'has only tended to confirm the view that Montenegro can only expeot salvation from co.operating with Austria,

In a recent letter from the Balkans to the London "Daily News," Colonel A. M. Murray said: ''Austria-Hungary is the one Great Power which, by reason of its geographical position, must always_ have a dominating influence, so long as it has the strength and will to exert it on all that goes on in the Balkan Peninsula. It is necessary to grasp this antecedent condition as it underlies the whole situation in the Near East. Froin Spizza on the Adriatic coast, where the Austrian frontier begins to lap round Montenegro, to Novo-Selitsa, where it intersects with the Russian boundary on tho north corner of Rumania, tho Austro-Hungamn frontier'extends for more thnn 800 miles along the north of the Balkan Peninsula, enveloping in its close embrace first King Nicholas's little kingdom, then tho Turkish Sandjak of Novi Bazaar, then Servia on both its north and west sides, and, lastly, Rumania; while the Russian frontier' is only co-terminous with that of Rumania for some 200 miles from NovoSelitsa down to the Black Sea. "Clearly Austria-Hungary in possession of this long land frontier, which oflera many avenues for her trade up and down the great water-ways and thoroughj fares loading from the Mediteransan inil Black Seas into the interior of her territory, must be the predominant external naftner in the Balkan Peninsula, while Russia in her remoter position with her restricted frontier, and with direct trade access to the Black Sea already secured, lias neither the sanie commercial interest as Austria-Hungary has in thn Balkan Peninsula, nor has she .equal opportuntios, supposing she wished to jlo so. to bring force to bear on a situation which is under the strategical control of tho Government of the Dual Monarchy. France, Germany, Italy, ana ourselves have interests, commercial and otherwise, in thn Balkan Peninsula, but no Power has tho same geographical facilities as Austria-Hungary has for controlling tho course of events.

"What locns standi has England to interfere in the Near East? Have wo not enough on our liands at Home without seeking further responsibilties abroad? We have; but.it is too lato to say so. Thirty-four years ago Russia compelled the Turks by force of 'arms to accept the Treatv of San Stefano. which created a big Christian State from ■ the Danube down to tlie Mediterranean Sea in the centro of European Turkey. On tho initiative of Lord Beaconsfield Europe replaced the Treaty of San Stofano by that of Berlin, which" restored to Turkey certain territory, and handed the Christians of Macedonia and the Vilayet of Adrianoplo back to Turkish rule. If there had been no Treatv of Berlin in 1878 thoro would b« no Near Eastern question in 1912. All the blood which has since been spilt, and all the misery inflicted on tho Sultan's Christian subjects, arn due to the malevolent influence of .Lord Beaconsficld's policy, which was conceived, not in the human interests of iho people concerned, hut in the aupposod interests of Great Britain's position in the Mediterranean Sea. Whether we wish it or not, we cannot withdraw from a partnership which we went out of Hie way to create for ourselves, and we must do what is now possible to repair _ a wronff which was committed by the British Government in the name of the British people."

mudirs, judicial authorities, police, and gondarmery nil belong to the past, and aro no longer (o be found. Murders arc the order of (ho day, nnd all that the Albanians have been demanding in their y programme of U points (schools, roads, Ptc.j is being destroyed by themselves. At Ipok the school in course of construe- j tioii has been razed to. the ground; tlifl depots of the contractors who aro engaged in constructing tho roads dcinandcd'by the Albanians have been plunder- , ed; and even the honso of the chief enBinoor, an Austrian named Grubhoffer, was searched by a. band of armed Albanians, who carried off .£250 from tho firm's cash-box." TELEGRAPH SERVICE SUSPENDED, j The Telegraph Office has been advised j from Berno that tho Administration, of < Montenegro notifies that it has suspended ■ the telegraph service to Autivari, Scutari, Nodogoritza, Touz, and Andriovitaa, nnd Berana. The Turkish Administration 110111103 that telegrams for Turkey are subject to delay, and may only be accepted at tlio sender's risk. Private telegrams written in secret language are no longer accepted for Servia.