THE MACEDONIAN OUTBREAK

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8289, 18 September 1903, Page 4

THE MACEDONIAN OUTBREAK

Writing on the above subject, under date August 12th, the correspondent of a London paper says :

The present outbreak in Macedonia is undoubtedly embarrassing to the two great Powers immediately concerned—namely, Russia and Austria. Xot only are the proposals of reform put forward by these Powers, and acquiesced in by the other great European Powers, thwarted by the rising, but the question of intervention is forced into the foreground. Intervention is what the Macedonians desirs.-, but which Europe does not desire. Both Russia and Austria, the only Powers wfuise ambitions in the Xear East call strongly u-pon them u> take a hand in curving up the empire of the Turk, have agreed to a self-denying policy, as an advance by one of them would mean war with the other. Xeither of these Powers favors the aspirations of the Macedonians for an autonomous Macedonia. It is logical outcome of the Austro-Russian compact that the Turk "will be ackrd to put down the insurrection. But here the trouble arises. Of course, the Pone will be asked to use none but regular troops, but the Turkish Government will not be able to prevent the Mohammedan population from taking part. According to news from Sofia, officials there a general massacre of CliristiaEs within at Litest a fortnight. TheMussulman population is becoming excited and gathering in the mosques, a bad sign. The Ottoman troops are not equal to the task of restraining the population. Many of the battalions are merely raw recruits, and are quite unreliable. It is thought possible that the troops may even aid the Moslaais in slaughtering the Christians. Although it is said that the Bulgarians for the moment aTe apathetic, a general massacre could hardly fail to arouse them to such a pitch that the Bulgarian Government would be forced into war with Turkey. It is said that. Kussia has warned Bulgaria that in such an event she would be left to the mercy of the Turk who, it is claimed, could easilv crush her. Adv:cc*>"through Reuter*s Agency give details of the spread of the insurrection. According to a report, by Hussein Hilmi Pasha, communicated to the Russian and Austrian Embassies, all the young men in the Bulgarian villages are fleeing to the mountains to join the .bands, those peasants who wished to remain quiet being compelled to join by threats from the committees. 'Che population in western Macedonia suddenlv rose in revolt, and after firing the havrieks, took to the mountains. Western Macedonia is entirely in the hands of the insurgents. Fighting is reported at a number of places. The insurgents are said to have lost 150 killed at Sorovitch. Krushevo is surrounded by 4000 troops, with artillery. Th=- insurgents repelled two attacks, after I which, it is said, they offered to surrender conditionally; but the authorities at Constantinople, on being communicated with, <mve orders to refuse quarter.- ° A panic prevails in Old Sexvia, among the Servians as they fear that, owing to the. departure of the Turkish ' troops lor Monastir, they will be> exposed to the vengeance of the Albanians. These latter are- in an angry mood, and have attacked Feric Pasha, wlio was leaving Ipek with the Turkish troops, and severely wounded him. - . - , I