The Balkan States.

Manawatu Herald, 22 August 1903, Page 2

The Balkan States.

TURKISH TROOPS MOBILISING. The Albanians who wore recently dismissed from the Sultan’s bodyguard are becoming a source of danger in Constantinople. About the date of the murder of the Russian Consul at Monastir (M. Rostovsky), Mr McGregor, the British Vice-Consul at Monastic, noticing that a policeman, who was guarding the police station, neglected to salute him, summoned the captain, who tried to excuse his subordinate. Me

McGregor compelled the captain to take the policeman's rifle and give the salute. ■ The Sultan has suntmoned fiftytwo fresh battalions of troops in the European provinces, owing to the spread of the insurrection. The British Ambassador "has warned the Porte of the new excitement among Moslems in Monastir, and of iha disastrous consequences if further attacks are made on Consuls or foreign subjects. Roumania is actively manufacturing smokeless powder. . \. Uskub advices state that six hundred Bashi-Bazouks under notoriously cruel Albanian chiefs, the Turkish authorities conniving, pillaged and destroyed the Christian village of Debra, in the Okhrida district of Albania. Two divisions of Bulgarian reserves have been summoned to strengthen the frontier forces against the passage of revolutionary bands. DESPERATE MEANS TO SECURE INTERVENTION. Advices from Turkey state that the Macedonians are intent upon embittering the Mahommedans, with a view to provoking wholesale massacres, and thus securing European intervention. The Porte has warned the military and provincial authorities accordingly. FIGHTING NEAR MON ASTIR. There has been severe fighting in the Monastir district, where three battalions of Turkish soldiery at* tacked a thousand insurgents. , After six fours' fighting, the Turks were repulsed, leaving two hundred and ten dead and wounded. Advices received at one of the Embassies state that insurgents in the vicinity of Monastir massacred eight hundrecLMoslems. A railway bridge has been dynamited at Exsohessoa, interrupting communication between Salonica and Monastir. WAR PREPARATIONS. The Cologne Gazette and other German newspapers betray irritation on account of the despatch of the Russian squadron, which is expected to rendezvous at the Gulf of Iriada, . The Porte is aware the, squadron is intended to uphold Russian prestige, and is willing to concede all demands except the appointment of Christian officers; to the Difficulties are urged upon that point. - ' It is also feared that the insurgents will interpret the despatch of the squadron, as the commencement of intervention, The Daily Chronicle states that British warships have been ordered to rendezvous in the neighbourhood of Salonika. / Bulgarian official despatches state" that fear is prevalent in Salonika of a general massacre. " ' The Consuls are afraid to leave their residences, and have asked for the despatch of warships to their protection.. Two hundred women from the village of Bakovo not spiritually subject to the Exarch but to the Greek patriarch, have arrived at Monastir and petitioned for the protection of Russia, Austria and Hilmi Pasha, declaring that the Bakovo has been burned and all the inhabitants massacred. ■ t The revolutionists at the Krushevo fight lost 60 killed and 11 wounded, and then left. The Turkish casualties totalled 250. Seventy insurgents near Kojie, in the Uskub district, fought the Turks for a whole day. The Bashibazouka next day entered the village and slaughtered all the men and women. The telegraph line has been cut between Adrianople and Constantinople. A bomb thrown into a merchant’s shop at Phillippoli' killed three persons. There were many signs of insubordination amongst the Turkish troops. Eight Macedonian workmen were proceeding to repair the railway at Zeleniktt. Soldiers shot three dead, pursued the rest to the station and killed them in cold blood, notwithstanding the stationmaster’s declaration that they were" his employees. Bulgaria has ordered fifteen million cartridges at Vienna, stipulating prompt delivery. The Italian Gouernment has decided to act in common accord with the other Powers and send a squadron to Turkish waters if the others do so.