BEFORE THE WAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2198, 19 January 1886, Page 2

BEFORE THE WAR.

Writing from Nisch on Oct. 14, on the eve of the outbreak of, hostilities, the special of the New York Herald with the Servian troops said :-The Turkish Ambassador has just arrived here, and proposes to demand of the king an explanation of the warlike preparations that h»ve been made. One battalion of 800 men and eight officers, with their equipments, were drawn up at the station and embarked on open freight cars. They appeared a hard and serviceable lot of men, in their loose, rough uniforms, and throughout the day they boro.unsheltered, thr burning sun with wonderful equanimity. As the train started, a large crowd assembled and loudly cheered, the soldiers cheering back. General Gartaggi, the King's Uncle, a handsome Roumanian, brought up in Paris, accompanied the troops. He said to me:—" I, am very much satisfied with our mobilisation. It has taken us only eight days to accomplish it, and by October 23 the last man will have left Belgrade. We shall then muster between 40,000 and 50,000 men." The men themselves were almost enthusiastic, their animation increasing at the various stations, where the population turned out en,' masse, bringing with them fruit, flowers, bread, wine,and meat; while those' whoso poverty prevented their offering a more substantial tribute,', brought large jars of water, which was welcome enough under the broiling sun. As the train went on, many exciting scenes took place. The men cheered, shouting out, " Servos! Servos! Kill.the Turks r while the women in their quaint headdresses and richly colored dresses, ■ combined weeing and waving of hands, These scenes were repeated at each station till' all : the : Jßddier»,hadtj fl n| decked out with flows, which «jch man, mho waived, plioedln Mi «pL Ooh of i

to me: " What; we Servians' want is i] Prisond. It was formerly the capital of j feerna, and must come back to us. Now ■ is our opportunity," I n an interview M. btrusky, the leader of the Eastern Ronmelian rebellion, 1 said that the revolution was effected to get rid of the costly institutions necessitated by ■ a separali# Government. These heavy expenses were ruining Eastern Bouinelia,'wliicli li ' a poor countrv,'and unable to bear tha weight which was laid upon it by it* semi-autonomous state.