BALKAN CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 192, 16 June 1903, Page 3

BALKAN CRISIS.

THE SERVIAN REVOLTASSASSINATION OF THE QUEEN'S <%\ r -BROTHBHS, OF THE SLAIN, mb raw ASSOCIATION. Belgrade, June 14. The Queen's brothers were persuaded to leave their residence and join a convivial parfy. Insults levelled at the Queen provsked a ecnffl*, the entertainers killing the brothers, who died embracing one another. Colonel Naumcvich was accorded a great military funeral. Qiieen Draga's siste; 8 were conducted to* the frontier. The bodits of King Alexander and Queen Draga were buried in one grave. Two priests only were present. The murdered Ministers were interred in a caramon grave without ceremony, and the murdered officers wereJhated without honours. St. Pktkesbtjrg, June 14. The Russian press is calm and prepared to acquiesce in the Skuptohina's decision on,Mond*y.

FDRIHER DBTAIIS. Bxlobadb, June 14. Press correspondents have b;en admitted to Belgrade. Captain Mischeto's party overpowered the Palace guards, killing and wounding twenty-six. Colonel Naumovicb, failing to fcrce the main door of the Palace with axes, shattered it by meat B of a bomb which killed himself. -Tbe conspirators then killed Captain Muleovitcb, and aide-de-camp, who barred their approach to the Riyal bedroom. General Fetrovics, the senior aide, destroyed the electric light, giving the Sovereigns time to hide jn a s,torerponl, When candles were obtained! the conspirators forced Petrovics to conduct them to the hiding place, where both the fugitives were repeatedly dnk and brutally mutilated. The bodies were then thrown into the garden, the fall breaking their spines and rendering them unrecognisable. The Russian Minister f uod tbe boiies at 5 o'clock in the morning. . Mischeto says that be lost 54 killed and wounded, and the others lost 200.

PITEOUS APPEALS FOR LIFE. A REVOLTING SOENS. PROLONGED AGONY. AKOTfIER AOCOtJNT. TRIAL OF MtJBDBRBRS DEMANDED, THE BDLTAN GREATLY AFFBOTBD. Beceived 14,10 p m Belgrade, Jane 15. Bdhind the door crouched the victims. Kiog Alexander on his knees begged for his life, offering to yield every demand and sign anything or leave Servia and dismiss Queen Draga. The officers replied " Too late," and fired, The Queen, also kneeling, asked for pardon- for "any offenca ehe had committed. - An officer used a degrading epithet) to h?r, indignities were offered, and then with a sword he slashed off a portion of her thigh. The others then fired their revolvers at the Queen. King Alexander was simihrly slashed, after which both were flung en the lawn, which is enclosed from the Btreet by an open iron fence. feoth lived tor an hoar or two.

Another account states that Kiag Alexander opened the door in the wall, believing the revolt was due to a th»t his married lifc» was unhapry and bis officers wished to kill Queen Drags. King A'exander contradicted the rumour, kissed the Queen, and both were then shot, falling pierced with nnmberlefß bullets.

.Russian newspapers demand tb° trial of the Be'grade murderew like other criminals. The Government at Belgrade professes to have rectived assuring advices as to the attitude of the Powers, and anticipates that Russia will recognise Pricca Peter af er some hesitation.

According to Servian newrpipsrs, it has now been discovered that King Alexander's gift to Queen Drag* of two million francs at tbe moment cf his marriage was abstracted from the national war fund. The Porte was stupified at the tragedy, the Sultan being greatly affected. He would not listen to details. Turkish newspapers have been ordered merely to refer to the death of the King and Queen.

BUIOIDE OI A FRDtMD TO THE KING KAOTB AS OFFICIALLY STATED. Received 15,10.22 p.m. Belgrade, June 15. Colonel Zevanovitch, belonging to the general staff, has suicided. His letter, conveying a warning of the plot, was discovered among King Alexander's papers. Londoh, June 15. Beater's Belgrade correspondent states that the officer executing the plot is reported to have been Colonel Avakumevics. The fallowing are tbe faots which will shortly be tmbodied in an official protocol fjr the information of the world :- Early in May one of the officers in the conspirators' council warned the King, who transferred tbem to provincial garrisons. He feared to take stronger measures. Simultaneously, the conspirators rent a lady to Geneva to invite Prince Peter to Servia, promising that the army would we'eome him and proclaim him if he wnuld agree to a liberal constitution similar to that cf 1888. Princn Peter accepted, and thereupon the cor spirators d" cided on the tragedy. Colonel Maschin, the leader of the p'ot, by private summons brought a number of conspiring officers from the provinces to the citv. supped or thti night cf the trogedy at » Belgrade restaurant* and arrangad the deails, which Wfre exf-cu ed as lust cabled. Entering the Ronsk they were two hours searching in every rcom. They killed General Petrovics when they had ascertained that the King's hiding place was approached by a secret dcor in the wall of tbe bath-rjcm, leading by a staircase to tbe roof. SENATE'S DEOISION. PBINOE PETES TO BE KIVG. THE CRIME MUST BE AVENGED.' THE CZAR TAKE 3 IT TO HEART. Beceived 16, 0.55 a.m. Belgrade, June 15. A conference between mrmbtus cf the Senate aad Deputes uuaninwuelY

f oo d< i d ia favcur oF tbe ° Ol s ituti °° of 1888,' and Princa Peter as King. -'"■*"-! Losdos, Jute 15. A Geneva correspondent of tbe Daily Express states that Prince Peter declares the nation must avenge the crim°, and that the King who could overlook it or receive a crown at the hands of aesissins would be their accomplice. The Daily Mail as3erts that tbe Czar was greatly shocked, and, with tears in his eyes, told Count Limedoiff "This is our fauH, as we ought to have had King Alexinder b tter watched." |

A DELAYED CABLE. Received 15. 3.17 p.m. Sydney, lane 15. The following cable, dated 12,b, was inadvertency delayed in the Adelaide office:— King Alexander was shot in the throat, his lasS words were " So'diers, you have betrayed me." Qieen Draga's sister and two nephews eroaped unii,jurfd. The bodies of King Alexander and Queen Draga were laid secretly in the Obrenovitch vault at St. Mark's Cemetery, bsing interred silently bstwe9n two and three o'cloek in the morniDg. Four Austrian river monitors are anchored opposite Belgrade. It is reported the garrison at Nisch refused obedience to the new Government, The Russian and Austrian Ambassadors died at the Servian Legation in London and condohd with the Minister en them ssacr?. The Servian Minis'er replied that he was convince 1 Russia ard Ausria would respeoi tho Skuptchina's decision.