The Balkan States.

Manawatu Herald, 8 September 1903, Page 2

The Balkan States.

PLUNDER BY TURKISH SOLDIERS. The Sultan, is the coium of a speech at Constantinople, declared that he waa convinced that the rising had not proceeded spontaneously from the people, but had been instigated from abroad. Ho regretted that Greece had suffered. He would be pleased to Subscribe to the relief of the situation, and regretted that some of the soldiers had acted contrary to his orders. The Turks endeavoured to compel the Kruahevo refugee* to sign a declaration that the outrages were the work of Macedonians. Evidence, however, ia forthcoming that the Turks plundered the richer Greeks' houses and spared the Bulgarian quarters, fearing the buildings there had bean undermined and because valuables bad been removed.

The steamer Voskopu (which was damaged by means of bombs while on the journey from Bulgaria to Constantinople) belonged to the Hun-garian-Lerant Steamship Company. She was searched for explosives at Varna. Being laden with timber and coal, the steamer burned rapidly. Soldiers from the despatch boats have been landed to protect the Embassies. The Porte promised Bnssia that it would dismiss twenty-four officials for malpractice. Nine were dismissed, three promoted and some transferred elsewhere.

The newspaper Matin states that the French Cabinet is considering the advisableness of reinforcing the squadron in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Government at St. Petersburg declined to receive the Macedonian deputation on the ground that it was not necessary, as tha Government understood the deputation’s purpose. The newspaper Novoe Yremya strongly hints that Bnssia, Austria alone supporting her, will formulate and enforce final reforms in MacsdoniaaadoldServia; HEAVY ROSSES IN AN EN GAGEMENT. An insurgent band under Chokelaroff had a fight with Turkish troops at Dawbeni, in the Dibra district. Both sides lost heavily. The Turks were badly defeated in trying to capture a pass leading over the Sateska river valley. M. Svetkoff, the Mabedonian agent at Bucharest, has been arrested on a charge of extorting £IOOO from various parsons for General Saravoff, the Bulgarian revolutionary. Insurgent bands are daily crossing the Bulgarian frontier. . Turkish troops defeated 250 insurgents at Dolomotogortzi, near Uskub, killing fourteen. They plundered and burned the village. The Turkish railways refuse to carry soldiers without payment from (be Government in advance.