THE BALKANS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5000, 1 October 1903, Page 1

THE BALKANS.

AUSTRIAN AND RUSSIAN AIMS. LONDON', Sept. 27. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, in a letter to the Times, says that the aims of Aus tria and Russia are to secure the paramount influence of Macedonia on the basis of Austria seizing Salonica, and annexing to Bulgaria a strip of coast from Salonica to Ivavala Bay, which would become Russia’s place of arms, enabling her to threaten the eastern Mediterranean and the Suez Canal.

The Archbishop of Canterbury in a letter to Mr Balfour expressed anxiety regarding the Macedonians’ sufferings. Mr Balfour, in the course of a sympathetic reply, said that Turkish nusgovernment and oppression of Christians was not the only question. The rival sects and nationalities were not imbued with western - ideas with regard to humanity and did not scruple to afflict each other. The Revolutionary Committees deliberately adopted provocative measures in order to create Turkish excesses, and thus enlist the world’s sympathies. Such measures we could no more morally tolerate than Turkish misgovernment. The best hope of improving Macedonia was European support of Russian and Austrian reforms. Britain had offered suggestions, but it would be folly to forget that on some occasions two Powers were stronger •for exoedtive purposes than three.

LONDON, Sept. 28

Reuter’s Agency reports that rumours are current that Bulgaria has sent an ultimatum to the Porte.

The actual mobilisation at Sofia of a regilnent of engineers has made tho‘ position worse, and preparations have been completed to forestall any sudden movement.

The Standard’s Constantinople correspondent leaFns from Sofia that any addition to the Turkish troops on (he frontier will suffice to cause war. The correspondent in a later message adds that two Ilavah battalions at Novibazai and four at Presrena have been mobilised and ordered to the front.

LONDON, Sept. 29

The Times says that at the instance of Izzct Pasha, who is largely responsible for the Armenian massacres, and who is now at Constantinople, the Sultan has ordered that in future all Bulgarians who are’ captured with or without arms must be shot.

CONSTANTINOPLE. Sept. 28

The Valis iu European Turkey have been ordered to proclaim an amnesty to the surrendering Bulgarians, and to take more stringent measures with recalcitrants.

Britain, like Russia and Austria, has intimated that neither Turkey or Bulgaria will be supported in the event of their opposing, openly or secretly, the realisation of the Austro-Rusoian programme of reforms. The British communication to the Bulgarian Government added that Britain is pressing Turkey to apply these reforms more efficaciously and consulting the other Bowers as to the possibility of introducing other and more suitable measures.

Turkoy has ordered the mobilisation of 64 battalions in the Adana, Angora,. Kostamuni, and Kassareih districts, one half proceeding to .Salonica within a week, the other half to Adrianople. The Dally Mail’s Monastir correspondent says that Turkey' has displayed wonderful skill in suggesting western military aid. She has drawn an iron cordon of 300,000 troops round Bulgaria ; 170,000 are massed in the Salonica district, 50,000 in Mqnastir, 70,000 with three hundred guns in Adrianople, and 10,000 in Kossovo. <■-

Documents purloined from llilmi Dasha's archives show that 63 Christian villages were destroyed in the Monastir districts, and 150 in four other vilayets. The American warships remain at Beyrout as it is feared that riots will follow their withdrawal.

Sixteen battalions .including many Konia troops, have been distributed in a place overlooking the Struma Valley. Sept. 29.

Bahkstiar Pasha, who was concerned with Adam Aga, commander of Die Rashi Bazouks in the bombardment without warning and massacres at Knu.hcvo, has been decorated and transferred to Kosto-

SOFIA, Sept. 28

Information has been received by the j Bulgarian War Office, which foreshadows that it is intended to dash the Turkish mounted forces towards the Shipka Pass. The Turkish troops on the frontier arc tenfold in number those of Bulgaria.

SOFIA, Sept. 29

After a requiem service for the Macedonian dead, a procession numbering fifteen thousand stood silent for a moment outside the British Agent’s residence. Subsequently they sent a deputation to Petroff to ask whether or not Bulgaria would help Macedonia. Petrol! replied ho as Premier would continue to act in Bulgaria’s best interests.