ALBANIAN RISING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 95, 12 June 1911, Page 3

ALBANIAN RISING.

0 A “HANDFUL OF HEROES.” Tlio Austrian Catholic organ, ILc Vatcrland, and ilio Rcichspost aoviliimo to urge directly ami by proxy tlioir plea tor Austro-Hungarian intervention iti favour of t.ho Catholic Malissori (wrote the Vienna correspondent of “The Times” on 23rd April). Li addition to arguments from the treaty rights and undeniable interests of the Monarchy, the Rcichspost employs the threatened expedition of Italian volunteers as a goad for the Ballplatz. In the VRcidand an anonymous Catholic Albanian publishes to-day a stirring appeal to the Powers not to allow the “handful of heroes” to be done to deith in the Albanian gorges by overwhelm ng Turkish forces. The Turkish Covetuinont, ho writes, intends to annihilate them once and for till. “Will the European Powers simply register such an act? Will the Austrian Government, to which these people have ever shown the greatest attachment because., it is the protector of their yeligionj permit the blood of the Malissori to bo shed as' the Turks may please? Yet, unless it intervenes, the Malissori arc already marked out for extinction.” Rumours that 'some form of intervention is' contemplated, possibly in agreement with Italy, wore circulated here late last evening. As far as can be ascertained, they arc devoid of present foundation, but no surprise need be felt should they become more insistent as the struggle proceeds. For Austria-Hungary a considerable interest, of prestige is at stake, and, however firmly the doctrine of non-intervention may be advocated in official quarters and the sacred right of every State to suppress disorder as it "likes within its own borders may be proclaimed by international diplomacy, it is useless lor the Croat Powers to close their eyes to the fact that’the methods employed against the Eastern Albanians last vear, and now apprehended in tlio case of the Malissori, may be employed against the' lUdgar and Creek population of Macedonia to-morrow, with consequences that ’would compel Europe to take a stand. This very real danger might be averted by a firm attitude on the part of the Powers in -the' present instance ; and it ought not to pass the wit of international statesmanship to define the European standpoint in a form hot.li serious and yet devoid of unfriendliness or offence to the legitimate susceptibilities of the Ottoman Empire.