TOPICS OF THE DAY

Press, Volume L, Issue 14919, 18 March 1914, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

At The Front. Miss Mary Durham, the Englishwoman who made a name for herself by her correspondence from the Montenegrin side in the Balkan war, makes some interesting and painful revelations in an article contributed to "Sell's World's Press." Miss Durham was very popular with the because she knew them well and sympathised with their aspirations, but that popularity did not prevent the authorities denying her access to certain -facts. In certain districts, she says, it was intended to exterminate the Moslem population, and, consequently, neither doctors, attaches, nor correspondents were admitted there. At first the Montenegrins were very anxious that she should act as correspondent, and sho undertook not to publish facts likely to be against Montenegrin interests. This she took to mean dispositions of troops, etc., but she soon learnt that other things were covered by the word "interests." On entering Tt__i as a Red Cross agent, the first thing she discovered in the Turkish military hospital were eight Turkish soldiers with their hoses and upper lips cut offWhat was sho to do? If she published tho horrible outrage she would be revealing injurious facts, yet she was loath to pass over such a crime. She mentioned her quandary to the Montenegrin authorities, and told them what she thought of the outrage, and the result was that all correspondents wero kept out of Tuzi until the victims were hidden away, and the Montenegrins' enthusiasm for Miss Durham as a correspondent vanished. "The Durham must not be allowed to remain at the front," was the officer's comment. 'She sees and and understands everything." "She remembers everything, and will tell the British Minister afterwards" was another remark, showing that it was the rcavealing of further atrocities that was feared. Miss Durham says that the men boasted freely of their mutilating exploits.