A Crave Situation

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 259, 25 March 1913, Page 5

A Crave Situation

AUSTRIA THREATEN IXC WAR. ITALY'S W Alt LIKE PIIEPARATJONS. MOXTEXEURO AXD SCUTARI. By Cable Press Association—Copyright. Received 23, 5.5 p.m. Rome, March 23. Naval preparations are progressing on a large scale. A squadron has been fitted out. It includes six transports. Troops are embarking rapidly. The newspaper Tribuua states that Austria decisively asserts that it-will not pel in it Scutari to be taken from Albania, even ii the town is captured before peace is proclaimed. Helgra.de., '.March '23. One of six Servian biplnnists at Scutari capsized in descending and was killed. The bombardment continues day and night. Several minor forts have been destroyed.

Vienna., March 23. The newspapers are irritated over Montenegro's reply, which refuses to allow non-combatants to leave Scutari, though it promises that fire in future will he directed 011 the fortifications. The newspapers demand that Austria should send an ultimatum. Ej'e-witnesses at Diakova state that irregulars bound three hundred Catholics, including the Franciscan Father Angelus, and ordered them to embrace the Orthodoxy or be soldiers. They were surrounded with riiles ready. An Orthodox priest asked each Catholic to sign a paper. Father Angelus, who was the last in the row, alone refused. The priest signalled the irregulars, who tore the father's habit and beat him to death with their rifles. Other messages state that the Servians near Uskub are committing indescribable outrages on women, after the men and boys are sent away. Hundreds of farms have been .burnt. Cettinje, March 23. The Montenegrins state that Father Angelus was arrested for rebellion and sent to Diakova, where he died. Paris, March 23. The Austrian Ambassador has informed M. Jonnart of the attitude ot Montenegro and the position of Catholics in Scutari and the determination of Austria to voice its protest and send a naval division to cruise off Albania. Advices from Vienna forecast that Austria will give Montenegro a time limit. The situation is daily becoming more strained. Constantinople, March 22. A direct message from Adrianople declares that perfect order prevails. The garrison are holding out heroically, whilst the Allies are making no progress. UNEXPECTED CONFERENCE. IMPORTANT POURPARLERS. London, March 22. The ambassadors' conference met unexpectedly on Saturday. It is understood that they are engaged in important pourparlers and will reassemble on Tuesday. Sofia, March 23. The Powers' identical note has been banded to M. l.iLieschod". It confirms the terms already cabled, with the addition of the Turkish abandonment of Crete. ULTIMATUM TO MONTENEGRO. Received 24, S.oO p.m. Vienna, ..March 23. It is stated that Montenegro has been given a week to reply to the Austrian demands. Cettinje, March 23. It is semi-oflicially stated that Austria has issued an ultimatum that unless the civil population is permitted to leave Scutari, Austria will resort to arms. THE AUSTRIAN FLEET. GONE TO DALMATIA. Received 24. 8.30 p.m. Paris, March 23. A communication from the Austrian Government indicates that the fleet has gone to the Dalmatian and not to the Albanian coast. OUTRAGES DENIED. Helgrade. March 23. The Servian outrages at Uskub and Prizrend are officially denied. The denial is supported by the sworn testimony of the Catholic priests. GERMAN' STEAMER SK [ZED. Received 24, 8.30 p.m. Athens, March 23. The Greeks have seized the German steamer lrmingard, oil' Lemnos. DIAKOVA. Received 24. 5.30 p.lll. Rome, March 23. La Tribuna says that the question of Diakova was settled at the Ambassadors' conference, which agreed to Servian annexation, on condition of Russia agreeing to the inclusion of Scutari in Albania. THE SILGK OF CHATALDJA. London, March 24. The Telegraph's correspondent at Chataldja says that the new spirit of patriotism inspires 120,000 seasoned troops. Izzat Pasha has done wonders in improving the organisation and providing food supplies. Recent engagements undertaken to discover the Bulgarians' strength, revealed .that the hitter's first and third armies occupy strong positions confronting the Turkish lines. The difficulties in the way of the Turkish advance are almost insurmountable. It is expected that if Adrianople falls the Bulgarian strength will advance to Chataldja.

AUSTRIA'S DEMANDS. Cettinje, March 24. | The Government, in reply to Austria's (demand, stated that Catholic conversions were voluntary, and there was not the slightest compulsion. It was agreeable to appoint a commission, including Austrian and Italian representatives, but declined to allow Austria to exercise a sovereign right over territory occupied by Montenegro. The Austrian Legation refused to accept the answer, because the wording was unseemly.

KELIIiJOUS DISSEXSJUX. Received -2.), 1.5 a.m. Vienna, March 24. The Government has int'ovined tlie Montenegrin Vice-Consul at Prizreud that tlie Catholic Archbishop is proceeding to Diakova to investigate the murder of Father Angelus and the forcible conversions. It warns Montenegro not to oppose the enquiry. The clericals are angrv at the Austrian acceptance of Dia\ kova for Scutari, declaring that it means abandoning tlie Catholics to tlie persecution of. tlie Greek Church.

TITE SIEGE OF SCUTARI. Received 25, 1.5 a.m. Vienna, March 24. Fifty-two thousands troops are operating against .Scutari, and its fall is imminent. A GERMAN PROTEST. Received 25, 1.5 a.m. Berlin, March '24. The North German Gazette declares that if Austria is resolved to call Montenegro to account for disregarding the property and lives of foreign non-com-batants over the Diakova incident, and the treatment of Catholics, siie is only defending her rights. NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS. Received 25, 1.5 a.m. Rome, March 24.

A Scutari despatch states that the Consuls desired to inform the Powers that Christians are suffering from the bombardment. The Russian and French Consuls opposed the despatch on the ground that it is equivalent to exercising pressure, contrary to neutrality. Many buildings flying foreign Hags and * Red Crescent flags were struck by shells. The casualties were slight. CHATALDJA AND EULAIR. Received 25. L 5 a.m. Constantinople, March 24. Excepting for slight skirmishing, all is quiet at Chataldja and Bulair. THE POAVERS' PROPOSALS. Belgrade, March 24. The newspapers are dissatisfied with the Powers' proposals. THE RELIGIOUS ASPECT. A SIGNIFICANT' INCIDENT. A'ienna, March 21. The Austrian Minister at Cettinje has been instructed to insist on the discontinuance of forcible conversions of Catholic Albanians in the Diakova district to the orthodox - Greek Church. He is to demand full satisfaction for the detention of the steamer Skodra at San Giovanni. The Austrian fleet has left Pola with the view of removing civilians from Skutari, if their departure can be arranged. Captain Rlasisch, of the Skodas, was not allowed to discharge cargo at San Giovanni, and refused to obey Montenegrin orders to assist in landing Servian troops and war material. He also declined, after the Hamidieh's visit, to assist in reseuins Servians who had been thrown into the water alleging the danger. The Montenegrins threatening to fire. Captain Rlasisch steamed off and was not pursued. The Allies' reply is not expected for some days, inasmuch as they are exchanging communications. Meanwhile informal advice in favor of moderation is heing tendered at the Balkan capitals. . Thf> Greeks occupied Tepilinix, making prisoners of a cavalry regiment and capturing -a number of guns.