The Balkan States.

Manawatu Herald, 29 August 1903, Page 2

The Balkan States.

RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES FOR THE TURKS, ■

“ The Times ” states that many rifles have bees sent across the BuL garian frontier, and several large bands have started for Macedonia The movement under General Sarafoffs guidance is, adds the paper, likely soon to become more formidable. The newspaper declares that the presence of the Russian squadron set the vilayet aflame and adds : “ She has no desire for genuine reform, though she does not wish to precipitate matters. But it is her traditional policy to allow the States she intended to absorb sinking into advanced decomposition. The Powers must try a fresh scheme of reform.” The “Daily Mail” alleges that the Porte has contracted with a Mauser factory for 200,000 rifles and a hundred million cartridges. The military authorities, states the paper, displayed a great desire for war with Bulgaria. The newspaper “ Neue Freie Presse ” states that the Government buildings at the Burgas Vilayet, Adriafiople, were -destroyed by

dynamite. Two hundred and fifty people were killed. THE ADRIANOPLE j£ASSACRE. One version of the Adrianople massacre is that the fort fired cn the insurgents and attacked the oatpost. A panic followed, and the populace assailed the Christians. Another statement is that a Turkish officer tried to enter the house of a Bulgarian. Resistance was offered, which excited the Moslem soldiers and Bashi-Bazouks who attacked the Bulgarian quarter. Krushevo is strewn with dead bodies, which were stripped naked. The people were afraid to bury them lest they incur the Turks’ suspicions. The Yali (Governor-General of the vilayet) confessed to the Consuls his , inability to check the Moslem fanatics. GRUESOME STORIES OF SLAUGHTER. Ibrahim Pasha supersedes Omer Pasha as Turkish commander in the disaffected districts. Omer Pasha has been recalled. > There is a growing feeling of restlessness and excitement at Belgrade and Sofia, owing to the atrocities which are marking the suppression of the rising in the Monastir districts, where the Turks have the upper hand. Ninety women and children in one building at Krushevo were cut to pieces and thrown into the street.' The heads of fifty merchants were carried on poles at Monastir. - While the troops were repelling an attack upon the town of Tcherkeskoi, between Adrianople and Constantinople, the Circassian inhabitants went and massacred the inhabitants of three Bulgarian villages in the vicinity. - PRINCE FERDINAND. Six prominent Bulgarians have been sent to Hungary to demand of Prince Ferdinand that he make a declaration of his attitude towards, Macedonia. , Unless he replies in ten days they are authorised to notify the Prince that he is dethroned, and that his return is prohibited. It is not expected that Prince Ferdinand will return. [Prince Ferdinand was elected to his position by unanimous vote of the National Assembly on July 7th, 1857, and assumed the Government on the 14th of the following month. One of the conditioqaattached to the position is that tl must reside permanently flrthe Principality.] . '