The Balkans

Southland Times, Issue 19133, 25 August 1903, Page 2

The Balkans

« — • RUSSIAN FLEET RETIRES. rANGLED TALES OF DEVASTATION AND OUTRAGE. Per United Press Association. . By Electric Telegraphr-Copyright. BERLIN, Aug. 23. The Kolnische Zeitiing states that Russia, being satisfied with, tho Porte's reply, withdraws her fleet. CONSTANTINOPLE, Aug. 23. Consular advices state that Bulgarian Komitajis, entering Krushevo, killed twenty officers nnd two women. Tho Turks bombarded - the place on the 12th and 13th, killing 41 Greeks. On the 14th they entered, pillaged and burnt Greeks' houses and outraged women. They conveyed a hundred insurgents to Mon-istir, where they were released. Twenty-two Christian villages in the Krushevo district have lieen burned, and 8000, rendered homeless, are starving. The Porte is sending relief. Christian advices from Monastir declare that the Turks killed 300 local Bulgarians. After the pillage of Krushevo they massacred 60 innocent Greeks and Wallachians. Turkish reservists forming part of the garrison at Vadens deserted owing to the sickness and privations which aro endured by all the Ottoman forces. Received 24th, 10.50 p.m. Advices havo been received that the Russian squadron has left Iniada. MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE. Komitajis defeated a small detach-" ment of Turks guarding a bridge betrween Kupt'iedi and Zeleniko, and wore prepared to dynamite the bridgo at the moment a train filled with soldiers was crossing. The drivers, suspecting evil, stopped the train. Komitajis threw a bomb, killing foui soldiers. Advices from Bucharest assert that Bulgarians and Greeks residing in Roumania have been recalled to their homes under mobilisation orders. The Porte has telegraphed strict injunctions to commanders to avoid excesses. ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 23. It is officially staged here that tho Sultan, having ordered the immediato fulfilment of Russia's demands,, the Czar therefore orders the squadron to return to Sebastopol. CONSTANTINOPLE, Aug. 24. FRIGHTFUL TURMOIL. Received 25th, 0.56 a.m. r r The coast villages between* lililg'aria and Iniada have been burning for three days. -. Fourteen insurgents., and 300 Turks were killed in fighting in various parts of the vilayet..; ; ';_ Insurgents saluted the Russian warships while passing Kuribiriinv It is reported at Salonika 'tV-at 700 insurgents were killed in the .Flow-iia and Okrida districts* VIENNA, Aug. 24. Austria interprets the withdrawal of the Russian fleet as--tho:-mainw»n-ance of the Austro-Russian understanding. _■___■___