The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1880.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3948, 13 December 1880, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1880.

Tttrket, having sown the storm, reaped the whirlwind. Bating not only offered a steady, dull, dogged opposition in her own capital to the cession of Dalcigno to the Montinegrine, but stirred up the Albanian people to declare that they would fight until exterminated rather than that the coveted city Bbould be yielded to the claimants, Turkey found herself unable to allay the furore of excitement she had called into existence, and was constrained at last to take up arms and crash the unfortunate people she had used and deluded. A stubborn resistance was offered, much blood was abed, but Dulcigno ab last was obtained and handed over to the Montinegrin people who, it may be presumed, are happy now. It will occur to most people that the assurance given by the Sultan, that he was not desirous of using force against the Albanians to compel the surrender of Dinosh, Gruda, and the disputed city, Dalcigno, wa«, under the circumstances scarcely necessary, for his Government instigated the Albanians to defend Dulcigno to the last. When the Albanians urged that they attached peculiar importance to the possession of Dinoßh and Gruda Montinegro waived its claim to these places ; but this concession, instead of placating the people, very singularly added coals of fire to their fury and they became fiercely defiant. The reason of this, it subsequently transpired, was owing to the encouragement to resistance which came from Constantinople. The Porte was actually furnishing the Albanian league with arms and supplies all the time it was striving, by the moßt easnest protestations, to convinco the Powers of the sincerity of its efforts to induce the Albanians to comply with their ilenian is. Troops were despatched undor Eiza. Pasha by the Turkish Government to the scene ; but the particular part they were designed to play was, from the first, more than doubtful ; probably they were sent because it was felt they would certainly be necessary upon one Bide or the other, and the particular side upon which they were ultimately to appear was left for circumstances to determine. When at length it became evident that the European Concert could not be broken and tbat all hope of Baring • Dalcigno was useless, the military agents of the Porte endeavoured to pareuade the Albanian Chiefs to give up resistance. In this, however, they were only partially successful ; some found little personal claims of their own tbat required rectification. The Porte succeeded in detaching a considerable portion of the chiefs of the League from its cause, but the unsatisfied broke out into open hostility. The messengers sent by Riza Pasha to endeavour to induce them to give up Dulcigno peaoeably were barbarously murdered, and the attempt of the Paßha to cross the Bojana river was forcibly and for some time, successfully opposed. Dbevisch Pasha appeared armed with authority to depcrt iuto banishment all who remained hostile ; but his efforts were also unsuccessful. At length came the final command from Constantinople, and the malcontent ohieftains yielded. All difficulties were | then thought to be over, but such proved not to bo the case. The people of Dulcigno on learning that the chiefs of the League had abandoned all resistance broke out into open rebellion, announcing their determination never to yield the city to the Montinegrins, and they did offer a bloody resistance. Nothing was left for Deryisch Pasha but to crush down all oppoeition and take possession of the city by an overwhelming use of force, which he did, and at length the oity was obtained and the will of Europe was practically recognised.

It appeara, however, that the Gladstone Government were bat half satisfied-. It was immediately proposed to the Porters that the concert which had subsisted, should be maintained Hntil the claims of Greece had similarly been acknowledged. The chiefs of the Liberal party in England, who fiercely denounced the Treaty of Berlin when it was signed, and they were in opposition, are now Bingularly enthusiastic in demanding that every letter of it shall be fulfilled. With the exception of Russia — now evidently the warmest ally of England — the Great Powers of Europe apparently came to the conclusion that enough for the time bad been accomplished in the spoliation and degredation of Turkey, and the combined fleet in the Asiatic Saa was dispei sed. The £ultan had been tild that the continued existence of the Ottoman Empire would not be assured unless ho yielded to the pressure brought to bear against him ; and it wag indicated that a fate similar to that of the ex- Khedive of Egypt was probably in store for him. This, from any Power or Powers is not very respectful to the dignity of a potential Sovereign. The great Powers seem to hold that Turkey has sufficiently suffered ; therefore the suggestions of England and Russia for a continuance of the concerted pressure have not been productive of any favourable response. The Porte, however, evidently Bees clearly that the evil day with regard to Greece has only be»=n put off and is by no means definitely abandoned, hence tho former proposition to arrange a boundary south of Larissa and Janina, but not including those towns, has been again submitted for acceptance. Greece has been continuing fcer warlike preparations, and doubtless anxiety to avoid in her present crippled condition a struggle in that quarter has promoted Turkey to her present action. Tarkey re-submits her former proposition in reference to a new boundary, which she trusts will secure her tbe Bympathy of the Great Powers of

Europe— England and Pruwia o£ eoun* excepted— and she demands that Greece shall cease from her threatening preparations. Failing attention to her demand, Turkey announces that the initiation of war wUI immediately be taken. How far England and Russia are supporting Greece to-day in the course she is pursuing i 8 not clear ; it is scarcely possible, however, that the Greek Government would consider the resourceo of their country such as to justify them entering upon a contest with Turkey unsupported. The probability ia that certain assurances of support have been given to Greece by Russia or England, or both Power* combined. However this may be, it is clear that a new danger has arisen to the peaoe of Europe, and at this moment tho htrle cloud upon the horizon has suddenly assumed a m©Bt threatening character.