OUTRAGE AT SALONICA.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 642, 10 July 1876, Page 3

OUTRAGE AT SALONICA.

The London correspondent of the Ai'gits, writing on May 12tb, says : The present position of the Eastern ques tioa is marked by the assembling of the three great Powers in consultation this week at Berlin. The Emperor Alexander brings with him Prince Gortschakoff from St Petersburgh; Count Andrassy represents Austria and the policy of his unsuccessful note ; and Prince Bismarck awaits them on his own ground. Rumour points to a temporary joint occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austrian and Turkish troops as the most probable solution, Meanwhile a large amount of sympathy is felt in this country for the unfortunate victims of the insurrection. Subscriptions are being raised for the succour of refugees and their distressed families. The Turkish army has b:3en largely reinforced, and it is said that 200,000 troops are converging on the disturbed districts ; but as lying is one of the favorite weapons of the contest, we know little more than that every effort is being made at Con Btantinople to crush the insurrection before the great Powers can interfere. European opinion, however, though statesmen may desire to cloae a dangerous question, would not brook such an end of the strife as left these long suffering provinces the prey of rapacious Mohammedan masters. There has been desperate fighting in the Herzegovina, of which we have received the most contradictory accounts, but it now appears that Muktar Pasha has really succeeded in revictualling Nekic, although hardly pressed by the insurgents. Their example is antagonistic ; not only is it felt in Montenegro and Servia, where sympathisers are with difficulty restrained, but now we hear of a movement near Philippopolis, in Bulgaria, which if not promptly checked may become formidable. It is believed to have been long preconcerted by Servian and other agitators, availing themselves of the deep discontent created by the excesses and outrages of the Government authorities. The outbreak began at Ottikeni, a village near Tata Bazardki, where some policemen were killed, and spread to other villages on the Rhodop, that branch of the Barkan which ruus parallel to the Maritza on its southern bank. The insurgents are variously reported at from 1000 to 10,C00 strong. It is reported that incendiary fires aro frequent, and that the people of the towns are in a state of excitement.

An incident at Salonica, the full details of which have not yet reached us, shows' the inflammable condition of the public mind in Turkey. A young Bulgarian Christian girl, who had embraced Islamism, was prevented from carrying out her inteution by a body of Turks. We are not informed a 3 to the motive of her change of faith, but it seems probable that it was connected with some matrimonial project, There are discrepancies, also, in the accounts, wc have received, some of them suggesting that she wa? a reluctant convert; but according to the official statement, telegraphed from the Porte to the Turkish ambassador in London, this young girl had arrived by railway at Salonica, where she was met by certain parties who had come to conduct her to the residence of the Governor-General, to make the customary avowal on a change of faith, but she was not allowed to proceed, as it is alleged that about 150 individuals whom the United State 3 Consul had assembled made a rush at the girl, tore off her veil and mantle, and, carrying her away by force, took her to the house of a Christian, thereby exasperating the Musbulmen who witnessed this scene of violence Shortly afterwards, an excited crowd marched en masse to the residence of the Governor to insist upon the young Mussulman being brought thither, and the people, collected in a mosque awaiting her arrival. The Governor having been informed that the consuls of Germany and France had entered the mosque which had been invaded by the crowd, immediately proceeded thither in person to induce the consuls to leave, and to calm the people, but all his efforts were useless. As the young girl did not arrive the populace wrenched; the bars from the grating, and thu3 provided with weapons fell upon the cousuls. Though the Governor attempted by desperate efforts to shield them with his own person he was unable to afford them protection, and they fell under the blows of their assailants. Shortly afterwards the troops which had arrived from the Ottoman stations and the barracks succeeded in dispersing the rioters.

It seemed incredible when we read this statement that an American consul Bhould have been guilty of this imprudence ; but his sympathy has since been explained by the fact that he is a Greek by origin and religion, and a Russian subject. Neither could we understand how the consuls of Germany and France could violate the sanctity of a Mohammedan mosque, except under extreme pressure ; but now we are informed that the three consuls were related by the intermarriage of their families, and it would appear that the two went to the aid of their companion, believing" hiui to be iu.'immincnt danger, and fell victims themselves to tbe fury of the mob. All the circumstances will bo investigated, and we- must wait for fuller knowledge before passing judgment. The German Consul was an Englishman by birth. A division of the French Mediterranean squadron was at once ordered to the spot. Italy has sent two men of-war, and an English vessel and a Greek vessel have also j >incd in the demonstration. The Saltan expressed profound gtief and regret on hearing the ne-.vp, aud a fiigato was despatched from Constantinople, carrying representatives of Germany and France, and Tmkish officials instructed to inflict punishment in a public manner befitting the gravity of the crime.

The incident would, under any circumstances, be painful, but ita importance is vastly increased by current eveuts at the present crisis. The smouldering fires of fanaticism may be easily kindled through the East, and according to our latest intelligence the iiot at Salonica is cot an isolated occurrence. Great disquietude existed there previously, and there were symptoms of agitation anions the Mussulman population, in consequence of the news from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Mussulmen had assembled several times for the purpose of preparing a massacre of the Christians, and the French Consul had been several times insulted. Apprehensions are entertained of fresh disturbances, and great excitement reigns among the Turkish population. Tbe Christians had cloeeJ their shops, and the military forces at the disposal of the local authorities were insufficient.