THE BALKANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 998, 17 September 1903, Page 2

THE BALKANS.

GENERAL DISTURBANCES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sofia, Sept. 15. The Bulgarian Premier declares that tho Government are unable to suppress tho insurrectionary organisations in Bulgaria. The hour will soon arrive when the people and army will imperiously demand war with Turkey.

Constantinople, Sept. 15. Tho Armenia Mafia organisation, in revenge for their successful proselytizing, assassinated at Adrianoplo and elsewhere several priests of the Orthodox Church. St. Petersburg, Sept. 15. Count Lamsdorff, at the reception of diplomatists, declared that the insurgents hope to establish un fait accompli in Macedonia, but were doomed to disappointment. Rnssia would never consent to granting autonomy under a Christian Governor. Tho remark is interpreted in some quarters to mean that apart from some step towards self-government, any proposal for Russian, Austrian, or exclusively Russian, armed occupation will simply bo the prelude to a Russo-Turkish war lor tho possession of Constantinople. The newspaper Yiedomosti advocates a Russian alliance with England with tho object of opposing German rivalry in the Balkans and Asia Minor.

Reports received hero say that disturbances have takon place among tho Armenian population at Alexandrople and Tiflis. The trouble is the outcome of the Czar, at the instance of M. Robiedomtzeff, ex-procurator of the Holy Synod, M. Plehve, Minister of the Interior, and Genoral Prince Galitzin, Governor of the Caucasus, authorising the seizure of property of tho Armenian Church in tho Caucasus, amounting to one hundred and

thirteen million roubles. Tho Armenians are greatly excited, and threaton to transfer the Church’s headquarter’s to Sis, tho religious capital of Turkish Armenia, whoso catholic head will become tho supreme chief.

BULGARIAN ARMY BEING ORGANISED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received, 10.6 p.m., Sept. 16 Sofia, Sept. 16. Bulgarians who rotired from the first three army divisions since 1900, have been summoned to rejoin the ranks. This will provide 10,000 to reinforce troops on the frontier.

Austria and Russia have protested against the horrible excesses of the Turkish troops, especially Albanians in the vilayets of Monastir and Adrianopie districts. In consequence aome Albanians have been recalled and sent to their homes.

A general insurrection has been announced at Vilayet of Seliniko. Eastwards of Varder river, and district, have been divided into eight sections, a Bulgarian officer commanding each, Colonel Zontchiff being Commander-in-Chief.