TURKISH ASSASSINATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 5

TURKISH ASSASSINATIONS.

1 _ ROBBERY AND BLOODSHED. Bs Telccrapii-Ercss As3ociation-CojyriEhl London, June 1. Tho Cotinjo correspondent of "The Times" states thai in the intervals of assassinating Bulgarian and Greek leaders in Albania, tho Turkish bands occupy themselves in robbery. They recently murdered ten peasants at Fiorina. Christians in tho Uskub and Monastir districts have been disarmed, but the Turks retain their weapons. .An informant of the London "Morning Post," stated to have an exceptional knowledge of Albanian affairs, recently doscribed the condition of tho country as follows:—

"Tho Young Turks go devastating and robbing; they take things, without, paying for them, and try to squeeze .taxes out of tho poorest of the poor, in order fo reconstruct the greut Ottoman Empire. They boast that they will soon force the Christians to shut their shops on Fridays and keep Ramazan. Things are in a very bad way, as the Government is only military tyranny, and 'justice' is worse tnaii ever. The Roman Catholic Albanians who have err',rir.ted into Montenegro say that they would not mind paying taxes to King Nicholas, becauss he would devote the proceeds to roads and other useful works, and that they would be even willing to servo in his army. But they would not contribute a piastre to buy gold lace for Pashas, nor help, as soldiers, to keep tho Turks in Europe. "Tho Roman Catholics aTe angry with Austria because they believe that the late Austrian Consul-General at Skutari promised, them his Government's protection if they would not rise, but remain quiet. Accordingly, they did not rise when the Moslem Albanians rose, but waited for Austrian instructions, until it was too late, and a Turkish army was upon them. Thus, enraged by what they regard as a breach of faith, they are incensed alike with the Austrian authorities and the Roman Catholic priests. If the Young Turks had only had tho sense to send Governors who understood tho language and the needs of the people, thev might h.ave retained Albanian loyalty. Half tho money expended on the Turkish military expedition would have paid for the roads, for which tho people "aro praying, and would have thus led to the development of tho country s • unoxnloitcd natural resources." As r-eeards tho future, my informant adds: I should not bo surorised if anotl>er rising took place. Tho.closing of tho Albanian schools and the attempt to suppress tho Albanian language havo caused great wrath, and were most foolish moves. Now is Italy's time to act in conjunction with Montenegro." '