THE BALKAN STATES

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 15

THE BALKAN STATES

ANARCHIST PLOTS DISCOVERED

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 27.

Edhem Pasha is ill. Amer Pasha replaces him as director of military operations in European Turkey. The Bashi Bazouks along the Bulgarian frontiers have been ordered to hang all armed insurgents captured. A large body of Albanians threaten to attack Preshtina and expel the Servian Consul. A train of artillery has been sent to Albania.

April 28.

The last fortnight's murders at Monastir include eight by Turks, eight by Bulgarians, and six by persons unknown. April 30.

The Albanians have issued a manifesto calling to arms, declaring that the Sultan has betrayed them to foreigners, and that it is their intention to defend themselves against all comers. Russia has warned M. Mashkoff, Consul at Uskub, that Lieutenant Murtievieff, of the Bulgarian army reserve, and seven others had entered Macedonia intending to kill him and his colleagues, owing to his support of the Servian cause at Itskub in accordance with Russia's instructions.

A Turkish military train near Salonica was dynamited. The engine and carriages were damaged.

May 1.

A Bulgarian band numbering 100 annihilated at Djumaibala 18 men. Others killed 14, and captured Vladovousvrokop. Ibrahim, the murderer of M. Stcherbina, is the chief witne&s against a greengrocer who, it is said, instigated him to commit the crime.

Bands of revolutionists caused a panic in Salonica. They destroyed the Otoman Banii. Bombs were thrown, which killed two persons. Three arrests have been made.

Attempts to destroy the cafes, post office, and other public buildings failed. Two thousand troops restored order.

The Czar has asked the Sultan to commute to penal serviture for life the sentence passed on Ibrahim, who fired the .shot which resulted in the death of the Rub-ian Consul at Mitrovitza.

A state of siege at Salonica ha.s been proclaimed. The Porte interprets the attack on European property as designed to compel foreign intervention. The Sultan appreciates the fact that the Czar's magnanimity regarding Ibrahim, the murderer of the Russian Consul, is intended to prevent an aggravation of the .situation. May 2. 'ihe Turkish official details of the Salonica rioting state that Bulgarians, driving past, threw bombs amongst the /soldiers guarding the Ottoman Bank,

dynamited the bank, the Ottoman Post Office, and the German Club, and cut the gas supply of iiie city. Five criminals were captured and several killed, others being pursued. The strongroom of the Ottoman Bank was saved intact. May 3. A quantity of nitro-glycerine and a complete apparatus for the manufacture of bombs were discovered in a shop communicating with the Ottoman Bank by an underground passage. The police have discovered trenches and mines laid in the chief quarters of Salonica. Vigorous resistance is shown to the wholesale arrests. Reports variously estimate that from 100 to 3000 Bulgarians were killed by the pursuing troops. May 4. The outrages at Salonica are depreciated at Sofia. The Bulgarian authorities arrested 100 loiterers on the frontier, including revolutionary fugitives. Two ex-captains were wounded. The Porte, in a memorandum, asks the Powers to induce Bulgaria to adopt prompt measures to restrain the revolutionary committees. An Austrian warship has gone -to Salonica to protect foreigners. Albanians plundered* a Servian village near Prizrond, the troops not interfering. LONDON, May 4. The Times' Constantinople correspondent says the Embassies attribute the whole blame for the Salonica affair to the Bulgarian Government, and warmly eulogise the conduct of the Ottoman authorities on a trying occasion.