THE ALBANIAN INSURRECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 268, 3 April 1911, Page 5

THE ALBANIAN INSURRECTION

A GARRISON'S SOIRTIE.' j FIGHTING THROUGH THE ALBANIANS. By Cable—Press Association—Cepyright. Received 2, 5.5 p.m. Cettinje, April 1. The Tushi garrison, assisted by ISO Mussulmen, made a sortie and attacked the Albanians, afterwards returning to their blockhouse. There were twenty casualties. Two thousand Bashib Azouks are fighting their way through the Albanians to the relief of Tushi. The insurgents do not exceed 4000. GERMAN INSTRUCTOR'S MURDERER. Received 2, 5.5 p.m. Constantinople, April 1. Colonel Schlichtling's widow appealed for a reprieve for the husband of the murderer. The appeal deeply impressed the public, but the military circles decided that the execution of the murderer was necessary in the interests of discipline. j MONTENEGRO'S DECLARATION. ] Cettinje, March 31. Montenegro declares she is absolutely neutral, and denies that Montenegrins had participated in the fighting against the Turks. ARMS POURING INTO THE COUNTRY. A 'DIFFICULT PROBLEM. " The situation in Albania is very threatening, and an insurrection is believed to have been planned for the spring." So wrote the Constantinople correspondent of the Manchester Guardian on January 17. He continued: The Governor of Djakova has resigned in fear of his life, reinforcements are demanded at Dibra, and the Government is sending four battalions. Isa Bulatin, the untaxable Albanian leader, is organising in.imreetionary committees everywhere, and arms and military stores are pouring into the country. To make things worse, common action between Albanians and Hungarians is talked of. "The demands of some 2000 insurgent Albanians, recently reported to the press, include a full recognition of the .Albanian language, and also what amounts to a modified form of Home Rule for Albania. The Albanians, whose fearless courage has always been admitted, are in many respects one of the most virile and hardy races of the Balkan Peninsula. They form some of the best troops and officers in the Turkish army, and under the old system met with special favor in respect of taxes and laxity of government, though at the same time educational freedom was denied them. '•'The sudden advent to power of the Young Turk party produced a change in their condition in two ways. On the one hand there was, for the moment at least, complete educational freedom; elementary grammars, reading-books, and newspapers in the Albanian language were openly on sale throughout Turkey, Ind Albanian clubs were formed. There was, in short, a great national Albanian revival. On the other hand, attempts were made by the central Government to enforce taxation, and to put Alhania under a more rigorous control. This led to disaffection, and in Northern Albania to an open revolt. The Turkish Government. fearing the national spirit they had aroused, adopted a mistaken policy of repression. and attempted to 'Ottomanisc' the Albanians by limiting their educational freedom. The result was the revolt in Northern Albania last summer, which has not vet died out."