ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 27, 1 August 1911, Page 7

ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

APPEAD FOR. AID. • TWENTY-Fivlf THOUSAND STARVING. By Telcgrtph.— l'wss A«soelittton.— CepywaKl. LONDON, 31st July. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bi&hop of London, with others, have is» sued an appeal for subscriptions in aid of 26,000 sta-rving Albanians, including 10,000 refugees in Montenegro. Nearly the whole Christian population of Northern Albania- is stated to require assistance for the winter. Owing to i the revolt the crops were not sown, and ' the flocks have either died from foot- [ and-mouth disease or have been eaten. Ample evidence exists to show that the I Albanian refugees have good reason for ! not returning to their homes, murder.and outrage by ihe Turkish troops being prevalent throughout the country. Information was received at Cettihje on 20th June that forty houses had been burnt that day in the district offtikhsi. One of the last acts of Horgut Shevket Pasha, the Turkish Commander, lately recalled for his excessive severity, wa-s to issue the following proclamation : — "Compatriots.—- Ever since its foundation the Ottoman Government has been aceuetomed to lavish ite clemency upon all its subject* without distinction of race ior religion. Accordingly 'by Imperial Irade a period ot ten days, beginning on the sth (18th) of June, is granted to the Maliseori who revolted, to deliver up their arms. Those who, appreciating the sentiment of moderation and magnanimity on the part of the Imperial Government towards the Maliseori, enbrnit and deliver up their arms during this period will be exempted from judicial prosecution fof act* which brought about the military operations. Moreover, our August Sovereign, in his aentimehts of lofty generosity, has deigned to distribute £10,000 to make good the inevitable losses caused by the military operations. Furthermore, suitable measures will be adopted to ensure the welfare and prosperity of the inhabitants of those districts, account being taken of local conditions as well as of the losses resulting from the present events. It need not be stated that submission will be accepted during the ten days above mentioned, and that after this period military operations will of necessity be resumed against those who Temain in arms on Ottoman territory. The Malifisori who have ta.ken refuge in Montenegro cannot avail themselves of this amnesty after, the expiration of this period, and should act accordingly." Previous experiences justify the tribesmen in refusing to accept the Turkish promises at their face value.