ANOTHER BALKANS CLOUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 11

ANOTHER BALKANS CLOUD.

UPHEAVAL IN ALBANIA. SERBfAN TROOPS ATTACKFNG. THREAT AGAINST CAPITAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Sun. LONDON. Dec. 16. An upheaval has occurred in Albania. Along the entire Serbian frontier Serbian comatadjis are attacking Albanian troops. The occupation of Tirana, the capital, is imminent. Britain has warned Serbia, Balga'ria and Albania.

A cablegram from Belgrade on December 11 stated that a rising had occurred in the north and east of Albania. The message stated that the situation was regarded as serious. Trouble has long been brewing in Albania, and on ons or two occasions in the past 18 months revolts have taken place. In June, 1923, a rising occurred in Northern Albania, when the insurgents with the aid of artillery defeated the regulars near Krasmitch and inarched on Scutari with a view to deposing the Government and restoring Prince William of Wie<l to the throne. In May of this year t'he northern provinces declared their independence under the title of the North Albanian States. Thero followed on June 2 a revolution which led to martial law being proclaimed throughout the country. The rebels captured Scutari after sanguinary fighting and many of the soldiers of the regular army joined them. They then marched on Tirana, the capital, and sent an ultimatum to the Government demanding its resignation. By June 5 the revolutionary forces had cleared the Government troops out of Northern Albania, and established a Government at Scutari under their leader, Rejep Bey. On June 8 it was announced that the rebels were masters of the situation, and were concentrating on the Government stronghold at Elbassan, south of Tirana. Three days later came the news that both Elbassan and Tirana had been captured without fighting. The former Premier, M. Elias Bey Vriono, and all the members of his Government and their supporters escaped to Italy. This ended the revolution. On June 12 a new Government was installed at Tirana, with Monsignor Fan Noli as President.