The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-11-07 00:00:00

BLOCKADE OF TUE BULGARIAN
FRONTIER.

A telegram from Nish, says: "It is officially an-
nounced that the Bulgarian military authorities have
established a blockade of the frontier, and have given
orders to shoot anybody attempting to pass into Be.l-
- territory from Servia. The Servian troops
have consequently been directed not to fail in reply-
ing by force of arms to any such proceeding, and not
to wait for special orders before so doing. According
to intelligence received, bands of Bulgarian volun-
teers have already commenced harassing the Servian
frontier towns by sudden incursions."
The Servian inhabitants of the Widdin district,
being harassed by the Bulgarians, and in some cases
arrested, are taking refuge on the Servian territory. •

The Daily Chronicle published the following on
Monday: "Our Special Correspondent, telegraphing
from Constantinople on Saturday, states that no
day had up to thatil time been fixed for the
formal assembling of the Conference, although
the Porte has been urged to appoint as early a date
as possible. The Porte is said to be uneasy at the
differences existing between the Powers on this sub-
ject, and in some circles the opinion prevails that the
Conference will have no result. Russia is still said to
insist absolutely upon the deposition of Prince
Alexander and also upon the restoration of the
status quo ante. In the latter point she will appa-
rently be supported by both Austria and Germany. The
Bulgarians, however, continue to be strongly opposed
to tkie separation of the two Bulgarias, and deputations
from various parts of "Southern Bulgaria " have
waited upon Prince ,9.lexander, offering to sacrifice
all rather than submit to the restoration of the status
quo. In receiving these deputations, Prince Alex-
ander, after expressing his regret at the action of
Servia, said that he had no doubt all Bulgarians
would do their duty towards their country.
"We learn from Constantinople that the Porte
has not yet nominated the Ottoman Commissioner
for Egypt, owing, as it stated in another telegram, to
the intrigues of the Ulema and the religious Sheikhs.
Sir William White has again urged the appointment
to be made, as Sir 11. D. Wolff will only remain in
Egypt 20 days. The British special envoy was officially
received by the Khedive on Saturday. when he ore-
eented his credentials."

The Daily Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent,
telegraphing on Monday, said: "Notwithstanding the
solicitation of the Powers, no date has yet been fixed
for the assembling of the Conference:' According to
information received at Vienna from Philippopolis,
Prince Alexander has resolved to resist every decision
of the Conference unfavourable to the union.
The work of consolidating the two States is
also declared to be going on, a central ad-
ministration having been formed with its
head at Sofia, whither the noumelian ar-
chives have been taken. Troops are also
said to be marching towards the Boumelo-
Turkish frontier, where a force of nearly 70,000 men
is encamped. The statements that the Bulgarian
authorities had given orders to shoot anybody
attempting to pass from Servia into Bulgarian terri-
tory, and that 200 Servians had been imprisoned at
Sofia, are declared by the Bulgarian Government to
be unfounded. From Belgrade comes the rumour
that Bulgarian troops have attacked the Servians at
Tsaribrod, the latter retiring at first, but subsequently
crossing the Bulgarian frontier.

The Daily News correspondent telegraphed on
Wednesday morning that, although the Ambassadors
in Constantinople had met several times privately,
they had notlthen settled any programme for the Con-
ference. The Porte, too, it was said, refused to bind
itself beforehand to adhere to the decision of that
body, unless it were accompanied by some sort of
guarantee. In diplomatic circles in -V ienna no hope
is entertained that the Conference will have any
practical result. The Powers are said to have
resolved that its decision is not to be enforced by
Turkey, if such decision be not freely accepted by
the Balkan countries. There is reason to fear, it is
considered, that many Mohammedans residing in
Bulgaria would be in serious danger on the appear-
ance of a Turkish army, and that great loss of life
might ensue on both sides.
A correspondent in Rome says that the principle
appears to be accepted by all the Powers that the
Treaty of Berlin must form the basis of the delibera-
tions of the Conference; but while the three Empires
are seemingly prepared to carry out that principle to
the end, the Western Powers and Italy wish to have
its application. controlled by a due regard for the
wishes of the parties primarily interested,
A telegram from Belgrade states that Count Kal-
noky's declarations with regard to Servia have given
entire satisfaction in that city. King Milan is said to
have specially thanked the A ustrian Government for
the statements made by the Count.