A LAND OF HORRORS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 252, 23 November 1903, Page 4

A LAND OF HORRORS.

DESPAIRING MACEDONIA. DEMONSTRATIONISTS' SILENT APPEAL TO ENGLAND. IMPRESSIVE SCENE. A great demonstration was held in Solia on Sunday, Sept. 27, thousands of Macedonians parading the streets with bands, black flags, and pictures of burning' villages. The demonstrations nmde a stop outside the residence of the British represtmtatire, apparently ma-king- a silent appeal for the goodwill of England. The proceedings were of a most impressive character. Bitter sorrow, wild tteSpair, and desperate determination marked the demonstration, which.ended with the solemn vow of tens of -thousands of men rather to die as outlaws and | despised by all the world than to submit to the Turkisk yoke. There was an utter lack of management, no skilful handling of crowds, no artificial effects to- work) up patriotic feeling. The people acted as if by one mighty impulse, and it w-as just this lack of managementwhich lent an air of genuineness and spontaneity to the whole affair. A NATION'S MOtTRNtS'G. Black flags were 9'yihg from many roofs, m«* and women were dressed in mourning, and even children ap-. peared in a sombre mood. At the cathedral, when the ■ MetrOpollta,tt pronounced the benediction and the recfuiem for the dead patriots ended, the masses of people assembled before the church formed in procession. Seventy men carrying Mack flags marched at tfa> head. The flags bore the names of towns and villages destroyed by the Turks, and these were followed by vividly - coloured pictures of sanguinary tragedies enacted in the now devastated districts, draped with crape and flowers. The portraits of the heroes killed for the cause of Macedonia were borne along, and then came the people, numbering many thousands. There were women in the crowd who cried bitterly, "bewailing dead brothers, husbands, or fathers. For a short time the procession surged and swayed as though uncertain where to go, then suddenly, like a large black snake, it slowly wound its way to the palace. But the doors were closed and strongly guarded. It had been intended to gather immediately beneath Prince Ferdinand's window- and here make an appeal for Macedonia, but the Prince wouM not have-heard them even had they done so, for, unknown to anybody outside the palace, he had early that morning left the town in his train "for a hunting party in the country." So the procession, swelling at every step, proceeded slowly into the diplomatic ■quarter, tne bands playing Chopin's Fu«eral March.

It avoided the Austrian, German, Russian, and the strongly guarded Turkish agencies, but passed the Italian and French Legations. Most impressive was the scene before the house of Mr Elliot, the English agent. Much against tho will of the leaders, but by a sudden, common impulse, the procession halted and foimed a half circle, with the pictunes of the slain heroes in the centre, flanked by the black flags. AT THE BRITISH LEGATION.

The bands ceased playing, and the crowd stood silently for several minutes with their faces turned appealmgly towards the balcony, from which Mr Elliot's daughters viewed the procession. But the leaders urgthem on, and they next proceeded to the residence of the Premier, General Petroff, where much the same demonstration occurred. Eventually, on reaching- the monument of Bulgaria's Apostle of Liberty, Vasileffsky, who was hanged on this very spot thirty years ago. Captain Prot«geroff addressed the crowd in a fiery speech which was receired very warmly He saW :—"This is our last ' appeal to Bulgaria. We say to you our brethren, you shall not make use of our national calamity for political intrigues. We ask you once more to help us or we shall deliberately transgress the boundaries of the laws of nature and mankind be the end death or liberty." ' Finally, a committee was appointed to visit the Premier, ami ask him this simple question, "Will Bulgaria help or not ?" There can be no doubt (says a correspondent) that tbe desperation of the Macedonians has reached its climax, and England s note has not only stirred the gratitude of fho peopl,, but has awakened a little hope.