The Balkans.

Manawatu Herald, 7 April 1903, Page 2

The Balkans.

THE ALBANIAN REVOLT. The fight at Mitrovitza was decided by the Turkish artillery shelling the Albanians. The result of the shell fire was that 200 were killed and wounded. The Russian Consul, M. Stcherbino, was wounded as he was leaving the Consulate next day. He was shot in the side by an Albanian soldier, who had had a relative wounded during the fight M. Stcherbino’s escort fired in retaliation, and mortally wounded the Albanian. The Sultan subsequently sent his Grand Vizier to the Russian Consul to express his regret at the incident. “ The Times,” commenting on the uneasiness felt by the Powers over the Sultan’s infatuation, partly ascribes it to Germany’s ostentations patronage of him. The paper adds that nothing is likelier to harden his heart against strong repression of fanaticism that the dread of disloyalty amongst the household troops. The Sultan has always been extremely timid of dealing with lawless Moslems lest he should endanger his position of Caliph. The article concludes: “If, the Vienna report that the Sultan has summoned Kurdish cavalry to Europe is true, it would seem to indicated that the Sultan has lost all appreciation of the opinion of Europe, or has resolved to flout and defy it."

PROGRESS OP THE RISING

It is reported that eighteen thousand Albanians have already assembled at Diatova and Ipek to avenge the check received at Mitrovitza.

„ The Government petroleum depot at Musta Pasha has been dynamited. A Bulgarian band has cut the telegraph lines and dynamited the bridge spanning the Augista A neighbouring tunnel two hundred yards long was also, dynamited. Pour battalions of Turkish militia have arrived at Mitrovitza.

Three thousand insurgents, headed by a bishop, surrounded a small detachment of Turkish troops in the mountains north of Okhrida, near Monastir, but the latter cut their way through without loss. The redifs section of the Turkish army system at Smyrna, numbering 12,000, has been summoned to Salonica.

The Sultan’s ultimatum consists of a mission entrusted to a General and three Albanian officials to try and bring the Albanians now in revolt to a reasonable frame of mind

Diplomatic circles are convinced the policy of cajolery is foredoomed to failure. M. Zinovieff emphasises the fact that Turkey is facing a Mussulman rebellion, a situation which is more difficult to the Porte than a Christian insurrection alone. Diplomatists are doubtful if the Sultan’s envoy will be received The “ Daily Telegraph ” states that six hundred Albanians were killed at Mitrovitza. The remainder are advancing on ¥ovibaza.

Russia is incensed that they are not being pursued, and the panSlavonic party in Russia is clamouring for armed intervention. Count Lamsdorft, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, still hopes that the troubles in Albania and Macedonia will be patched up. Austria supported Russia’s representations as to the necessity of suppressing the Albanian revolt. Austrian official newspapers declare that Turkey must mercilesly punish Albanians and Macedonians and an Austro-Russian understanding prevents outside intervention.

Owing to the massing of Turkish troops on the old Servian frontier, Servia is reinforcing her frontier garrisons. Conflicts, with bloodshed, have already occurred at Ku/nanoto and Okhrida. Germany has urged the Sultan to proceed with reforms, to suppress the Macedonian excesses and to punish the authors of the attack on M. Htcherbina, who was wounded at Microvitza.