The Balkan Crisis.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 1000

The Balkan Crisis.

A i'l'.W NOTES ABOUT THE COUNTRY.

Albania, forms the south-western portion of the. remaining immediate possessions -of European Turkey, and extends from the principality of Montenegro on the north to the river Aita, which separates it from Greece on the south. The Albanian land is remarkably fertile hut through bad rule and the indolent and irresponsible character of the people, this fact is a negligible, or at least a neglected, quantity. The Albanians themselves form a peculiar people called by the Turks, Arnauts, i-nd by themselves Skipetars. Their language in the view of Lord Strangford, “is more closely connected with Greek than with any other Indo-Euro-pean language existing or recorded.” The Albanians arc “half civilized mountainceis, frank to a friend, vindictive to an enemy. They are frequently under arms, and are more devoted to robbery than to eattle-rearing and agriculture. They live in perpetual anarchy, every village being at war with its neighbour, and even the several (juarters o: the. same town carrying on mutual hostilities.-’ Many of them serve as mercenaries in other countries, and hitherto they have formed the best soldiers in the Turkish army. At one time the Albanians were all Christians; but after the death of their last chief, the hero Scanderbcrg, in I+G7, ami their subjugation by the Turks, a large part became Mohammedans, 'ho distinguished themselves thenceforward by their cruelty and Ire-.5<-hery. Their rebellions against Tuii.ish rule have been numerous, but not generally very formidable. The Russian occupation of Bulgaria was dismissed as a possible event of tile lurri-nt year long before the Balkan situation had reached its present de-

gree <>f an acute crisis. The ideal of Ihe occupation of the peninsula with a view to a Mediterranean "frontage” is, of course, as old as Peter the Great.

Montenegro, the little Principality which the Czar recently been alining. has the distinction of possessing a capital in Cetlinji (or Cettigne, as it is sometimes written) with a population of some one thousand people.

Turkey may bo said now to be beset by enemies on every side—Servians, Bulgarians, and Montencgrons to the north and north-ciut, Albanians to the west. Macedonians to the south, while <m 1 he cast there is nothing more friendly than the Aegean Sea. It must not be supposed that because Russia and Austria are acting in con-

cert that their interests are ultimately in common. The main feature of the Near Eastern policy of botli Germany and Austria has been to prevent the westerly encroachment of Russia. They may be said to be the only two nations .in », formal and exact sense directly interested in the maintenance of the status quo on the peninsula. With the other powers the governing principle is a very general and indirectly involved but a highly important one in the maintenance of the “balance of power.” Italy is, however, interested in the fate of Albania, for obvious reasons.

Turks, Greeks, and Albanians form 70 per cent, of the population of European Turkey.

Mitrovitza —-a town in Albania about which we - 4 re hearing inueh just now—came into prominence last year by the expulsion therefrom by the Albanians on September 3 of two servants of the Russian Consulate. Subsequently the people of the town and the surrounding districts were disarmed by the military authorities, and the situation greatly improved. . -. . .

The Macedonian share in this general revolt is the culminating- point of prolonged and careful organisation with the object of obtaining radical reforms. The Macedonian Committee which was recently broken up by the Bulgarian Government through the influence of Russia has been a powerful agent in favour of revolt. The main demand of this Southern people is for the introduction into Macedonia and the vilayet of Adrianople of reforms analogous to those given to Crete. This demand was after the massacres of November last supported by Russia and AustriaHungary, and later by Germany. The Turkish Army is organized on the territorial system, the whole empire being divided into seven territorial districts. By the recruiting law all Mussulmans are liable to military service. Christians and certain sects pay an exemption tax. The cavalry are set down at 55,300; the artillery (174 field and 22 mountain batteries) at 54,720 with 1.350 guns; the engineers at 7,400; and the infantry at 583,200. Sei-via’s total military strength is estimated at 128,000. with only 10,000 to 18.000 with the colours; while Bulgarian claims to have an army of 110,000 men of all ranks.