THE REVOLT IN THE BALKANS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2800, 21 August 1903, Page 2

THE REVOLT IN THE BALKANS.

The Bulgarian Note to the Powers accuses Turkey of closing churches and schools, terrorising and ruining tha peasantry, exasperating the population, torturing the innocent, and oollecting taxes yeare in advance. The Note enumerates acts of injustice, torture and violation, giviog the names of the victims and Realities Four thousand persons are still in gaol, and persecutions have driven 6000 into Bulgaria, The Porte f should recognise that that the cause of the insurrection is bad administration, not con* spiraoy on the part of Bulgaria. .• M. Petreff, in an interview, said that the Bulgarians' attitude was absolutely correot. The frontier was carefully guarded. The rising wa* purelj internal and national and the woik of en internal committee. The insurgents' arms were mostly French, Bold by Turkish officers whose pay was in arrears, fie believed that the outbreak would be con fined to the Monastir district and easily suppressed. Colonel Zontcheff, a prominent rebel leader, recently arrested on the Bulgarian frontier, bas escaped and left Bulgaria, j^ Rear.Admiral Krueger commands the Russian Squadron proceeding to Turkey. It consists of four battleships, four torpedo destroyers and six torpedo boats. Austria was not consulted nor informed officially regarding the deepatch of the Hussian Squadron. The news was received at Vienna with doubt and dissatisfaction. Austria is now trying to dissuade the Czar from making a demonstration, inasmuch-wee tbe Sultan has begun reparation for the murder of M. Rostovsky.

It is officially stated here that Austria ia oonfident that Russia will do nothing op* posed to the Austro'Ruesian agreement Hbr anything to impair good confidential relations.

Uekub advices state that 600 Bashi Bazouks, under notoriously cruel Albanian chiefs, the Turkish authorities conniving, have pillaged and destroyed a Chrieti&n village on the Debra Okrida district. 'J he Sultan hasjsummoned 52 fresh b&J|v lions of troops in his European province!, owiDg to the spread of the insurrection. The British Ambassador has warned the Porte in view of the new excitement among the Mosleme at Monastir, of disasirouß cife* aequences if further attacks should be made on Consuls or foreign subjects.

There has been severe fighting in the Mon astir district. Three battalion! at' tacked 10C0 insurgents, but after six hours fighting were repulsed, leaving 210 dead wouuded.