The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-08-28 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

DEPOSITION OF PRINCE
ALEXANDER.
(The Times Telegram.)
VIENNA, Aug. 22.
.1110 long duel between Russia and Prince
Alexander of Bulgaria has ended in the latter's over-
throw. Yesterday the Prince was deposed by a con-
spiracy and taken under escort to Widdin, where be
has to embark to-day for Severin, in Wallachia. A
Provisional Government has been formed at Sofia,
composed of MM. Karaveloff, Zankoff, Radoslavoff,
Grekoff, Burmoff, and Gruef. The last, a strong
Russophil, becomes Minister of War.
The following details are sent me in a private tele-
gram from Bucharest, dates six o'clock this evening:
"For the last 24 hours telegrapbi c correspondence
with Bulgaria has been interrupted. All news comes
to us by official couriers. No private persons are
allowed to enter or leave the country. Yesterday
morning several regiments, accompanied by a large
crowd, marched to the palace at Sofia, surrounded it
completely, and raised loud cries for the Prince's abdi-
cation. M. Karaveloff entered the palace, explained to
the Prince that public opinion was dissatisfied with
his policy, and demanded his deposition; whereupon
the Prince said that, seeing no friends around
him, he could offer no resistance, and accordingly
signed an abdication. Soon afterwards he left for
Within under a cavalry escort. A ylk•ht was in
waiting for him, and it was arranged that be should
be embarked for Severin. A Provisional Government
was then formed, under the title of Limitenance Prin.
ciere, and a proclamation was issued informing the
people that, although Prince Alexander had rendered
some services to Bulgaria, he had recently adopted a
policy contrary to the interests of the Bulgarians, who
were Slays, and that henceforth the Principality must
follow a Russian policy. Great meetings were held
during the day at Sofia and Rustchuk, and the Provi-
sional Government's proclamation was received with
general favour. The Bulgarians seem to rejoice at
the coup rectat, which has put an end to a situation
which had become intolerable. They are persuaded
that Russia will now give them her assistance, and
that the union will be consummated. At Bucharest
the greatest excitement prevails. The Ministers
have left for Sinaia, where a Cabinet Council is being
held under the King's presidency. M. Bratiano has
returned in baste from Govdra."

A later despatch says that Prince Alexander was
taken completely by surprise. The conspiracy con-
ducted by M. Karaveloff worked with perfect secrecy.
For some days, however, a mutinous spirit had been
observable among the troo-ps. Newspapers were spread
among them which openly declared that Prince
Alexander was the only obstacle in the way of the
union. The Prince gave orders that the circulation of
these papers should be stopped, but his orders were not
obeyed. Among the people the feeng of affection
towards the Prince remained undiminished, but since it
became evident that Turkey did not mean to make
any concessions as regards the revision of the Organic
Statute, the Prince's situation was felt to have be-
come desperate. Nothing could have saved his popu-
larity in Roumelia save an act of force by which he
would have defied the Porte, but this he refused to
risk. and in the circumstances it seemed to the poli-
ticians at Sofia as at Philippopolis that Russia had
proved stronger than the Prince, and that nothing
could be expected for the future except from Russia.

The news of the Prince's overthrow is known to
very few people in 'Vienna. As it is Sunday there are
no evening papers, and all the newspaper offices and
Government Bureaux are closed. I received a first
despatch giving the information succinctly at two
o'clock. The official despatches since received state
less than what I now telegraph. lam assured that
in official circles in -Vienna this coup d'etat at Sofia,
was wholly unexpected, though there have been appre-
hensions for some weeks that revolutionary events were
impending in East Roumelia. It was always asserted
most strenuously, however, that, happen what might
in Roumelia, the peace of Europe would not be dis-
turbed by events which affected the Prince alone. It
may be useful to recall these official assurances DOA •
because it is nearly sure to be suspected by the public,
not of this country only, but of all Europe, that
Prince Alexander's deposition must have been dis-
cussed if not actually settled at Gamin. Many people
will judge that the anticipated acquiescence of the
-Vienna and Berlin Cabinets in the Prince's possible
overthrow was a sign that Germany and Austria
meant to let Russia have her revenge on the Prince
for the sake of maintaining peace.
So long as the Prince remained in open quarrel with
Russia the Bulgarian question looked insoluble, and
peace in the Balkans was precarious. As I am in-.,
formed, however, the agreement of the two Imperial
Powers touching the Prince went no further than
this, that the Prince must hold his own, that if the
Roumeliots were dissatisfied with his policy, Germany
and Austria could not interfere to save him personally
by further straining the Treaty of Berlin in his favour.
This understanding being of course known to Russia that
Power may have considered that she had casteblanchein
Roumelia, but it was no doubt beyond the calculation
of Prince Bismarck and Count Kalnoky that Russia
would succeed in stirring up a revolution against the
Prince in his own capital amid soldiers who seemed
devotedly attached to him, and among a population
wEich professed the greatest love for hint. By this
act Russia has verified the predictions of those who
said that she would probably strike some great coup
before the cement of the new Imperial alliances with
England had had time to dry.
By the light of what has happened some words
spoken by M. Garashanine in a conversation at Pesth
last Wednesday seem prophetic. The Servian
Premier said that Russia would certainly not allow
her influence in Bulgaria to be wiped out, that she
would strike a blow at her own time when she was
ready, and that therefore it behoved Servia to have
300 cannon and 150,000 rifles at her disposal, so as
to be armed for emergencies. M. Garashanine stoutly
denied that Servia had any thoughts of declaring war
against Bulgaria. The armaments of his country, he
said, were rendered necessary as precautions in the
event of Russia's becoming Servia's near neighbour.
It will be noticed that the members of the Pro-
visional Government at Sofia are, with the exception
of MM. Karaveloff and Grekoff, noted Russophils. M.
Zankoff was chief of the Opposition. M. Radoslavoff,
lately Minister of Justice, joined the Opposition but a
few weeks ago.
LATER.

Count Ealnoky is absent from Vienna, but is ex-
pected to return to-morrow. M. Garashanine's
return to Belgrade is announced, and King Milan's
projected voyage will of course be put off. It is con-
jectured that the supreme point of tension between
Prince Alexander and the Opposition must
have been reached when the negotiations
between the Turkish and Bulgarian Commis-
sioners for revising the Organic Statute were broken
off. The Turkish contention being that Rouinelia
must remain a Turkish province administratively as
well as nominally, it lay with the Prince to say
whether he would take upon himself to proclaim the
unification of Bulgaria regardless of consequences.
To have done this would have been to put himself
wrong with the Great Powers, so his position was
hopeless. The one possibility of maintaining himself
has, indeed, always lain in the chance that the
Roumeliots would have patience and not let them-
selves be used as Russia's catspaws.
It has, however, been Russia's object for months to
foment Roumeliot impatience. Without believing all
the stories told of wholesale bribery of Roumeliot and
Bulgarian officials, one may accept it as positive that
Russia has spent enormous sums in subsidising the
factious newspapers with which Rounielia has lately
swarmed. Moreover, the recall of Sir William White
from Constantinople and the accession of the Glad-
stone Cabinet last winter told heavily against the
Prince by alienating the Porte from British influence.
Able as was Lord Rosebery's administration at the
Foreign Office, he could not struggle against the
distrust which was inspired by Mr. Gladstone's
name at Constantinople, a distrust which M. de
Nelidoff most ably used for the ends of his policy.
Unfortunately, too, Sir Edward Thornton had not
the time, even had his diplomatic work not been
hindered by an accident and by ill-health, to win that
full confidence from the Turks which Sir William
White enjoyed. Sir William, as an Oriental diplo-
matist, is at least M. de Nelidoff's equal. Had he
remained at Constantinople, it may be doubted
whethee Turkey would ever have issued to Madjid
Pasha and Gadban Effendi those uncompromising in-
structions which have precipitated the Prince's fall.
These instructions showed but too plainly how all the
influence which had been gained for England by a
few months' careful diplomacy had been lost from
the moment when England's foreign policy was no
longer guided by hands on which Turkey, Austria, and
Germany could rely.

'Reuter's Telegrams.)
COLOGNE, Aug. 22.
The Cologne Gazette to-day states that Prince
Alexander was first brought from Widdin to Loin
Palanka. According to the latest intelligence, his
Highness has already passed the Bulgarian frontier.
The Cologne Gazette commenting upon the deposition
of Prince Alexander says: "'The Prince, whose
personal qualities deserved a better fate, has been for
some time past between the influence of Russia, who
placed him in his position, and England, who first won
him over to her, and then left him in the lurch. Since it
became an established fact that England would not go
to war either on any question relating to the Balkan
States, nor even for the possession of Constantinople,
but only for the preservation of India, Prince Alex-
ander's position was a hopeless one. Turkey has had
sufficient experience of Russia's warlike superiority
to prevent her risking an isolated war against that
country, and especially on behalf of Bulgaria; indeed,
it may be safely assumed that the intention to depose
Prince Alexander was known in Constantinople. "As
regards Austria," continues the journal, "the Con-
ferences at Kissingen and Gastein are sufficient
guarantee that she will not undertake the task
intended for her by England of snatching the
Bulgarian chestnuts out of the fire. We must
rather expect that the removal of Prince
Alexander, whom England tried to introduce
as a wedge between Austria and Russia, will result in
an,interval of shorter or longer duration in a con-
stant whirl of the Balkan question. The ease with
which the fall of the Prince was effected warrants the
conclusion that the situation in Bulgaria will not
become unmanageable, but that the next settlement
of the country, even though only provisional, will
certainly not lead to war.' Ike article nal:achy:lea:

"In support of our view on the subject we would
again recall the words spoken by Prince Bismarck at
the critical moment during the Berlin Congress—
'Gentlemen, ws are assembled here not to assure the
happiness of Bulgaria, but rather the peace of
Europe." .

BERLIN, Aug. 22.
Referring to the deposition of Prince Alexander,
the Post says : We can only repeat our first impres-
sion that this unlooked for intelligence brings a solu-
tion of a situation which was daily becoming more
precarious. Prince Alexander, the former Russian
candidate, had, without knowing it, made himself the
representative of English interests directed not to
the maintenance of the Prince on the throne, but
rather to make Bulgaria a source of contention
between Russia and Austria in the hope that the
Eastern question might be solved by an Austro-Russian
conflict without sac.:itice of English blood or money.
This intention has, however, now , been frustrated
by events, and England retires for the present from
active participation in. Balkan politics. We recognise
in this circumstance a peaceful symptom in the situa-
tion, for that Austria and Russia will not fall out on
the question of who is to become Prince of Bulgaria
is sufficiently guaranteed by the activity of Prince
Bismarck, which has never been more apparent than
during the last few weeks. We may assume that
Turkey was in the secret of the intended
deposition. At an rate, the intricate instruc-
tion & given to the Turkish Commissiorers for
the revision of the Roumelian Organic Statute
lead to the conclusion that the Porte was not
desirous of building a golden bridge for Prince
Alexander. The situation may, therefore, be sum-
marised as follows: England is occupied with her in-
ternal affairs ; Turkey has neither the power nor the
intention of declaring war against Russia, and the
agreement between the three Emperors is more
plainly apparent than ever. In these circumstances
we may wait without anxiety and see whether Aleko
Crestovics, or some petty European Prince becomes
Prince of Bulgaria. The article concludes with a,
reference to Prince Bismarck's celebrated remark re-
garding Herzegovina: The bones of the well-11'10%4n
Pomeranian Grenadier will not be endangered by
recent events.

KRASI4OII SELO, Aug. 23.
The most startling news that spread through the
besieged camp here this morning was the deposition
of Prince Alexander of Bulgaria, which, strangely
enough, reaches us at a moment when the Czar is en-
tertainirig his foreign military guests with a represen-
tation of the defence and capture of Plevna. News-
papers from St. Petersburz merely print the
telegraphic announcement of the fact, with the
exception of tho Viedomosti, which says: "The
Prince of Battenburg, who so perfidiously broke
with Russia and gave her so much trouble,
has thus closed his career of adventure. In
retirement he may remember the ironical remark
of Prince Bismarck about the 'pleasant remem-
brances' of Bulgaria, a country which his deposition
again turns into a theatre for intrigue, revolution,
and foreign interference. If yesterday's revolution
has not taken Russia altogether by surprise, it at
least finds her unprepared for the part which she
must necessarily play. International relations at the
present moment cannot be called favourable for us.
At the same time Russia will find it necessary to
make her powerful voice heard in order to prevent the
future fate of Bulgaria from again slipping out of her
hands."

Although the rest of the Russian press has n'it yet
had time to give its opinion, it is easy enough to guess
what that opinion in the main will be. A triumph
for the Imperial Government the event certainly is,
and in Russian eyes a bitter disappointment for
England and Lord Salisbury's new Cabinet. This is
sufficiently noticeable in the observations made here
in camp. It has all along been considered in St.
Petersburg as more or less of a certainty that Prince
Alexander would one day or other have to pay the
penalty of his contempt of Russia. Great exultation
is exhibited here at the news.

MADRID, Aug. 23.
The news in Bulgaria has thrown into the shade
all the political tittle-tattle which has recently been
worn threadbare in never-ending discussions. In this
capital universal sympathy is expressed fur Prince
Alexander, who is eonsiaered a victim to the pereonal
enmity of the Czar and to Russian hatred for
England. To England the affair is considered to be a
knock-down blow after the slap in the face given by
the declaration respecting Batoum. Although Sin
has no direct interest in the question, a Cabfnet
Council is being held to discuss the general European
outlook.

Spanish Funds have fallen / per cent.
SOFIA, Aug. 22.
Another proclamation has been issued by the Pro-
visional Government, which says:
"Prince Alexander rendered Bulgaria great ser-
vices on the field of battle, but in politics he had tor,
little regard for Bulgaria's position as a Slav Stato,
and for the maintenance of good relations with
Russia. His deposition therefore became a neces-
sity."

BecuAnEsT, Aug. 23.
Intelligence received here from Sofia states that
the Provisional Government, seeing • that public
opinion was favourable to Prince Alexander,
caused a Ministerial list to be circulated com-
prising prominent men of all parties in order tbat
it might be supposed that the new Government
was receiving general support. In addition to the
names already announced from Sofia, this list in-
cluded those of MM. Stambouloff, Manoff, Matizaroff,
Velitcbkoff, Stoiloff, Breamoff, Grecoff, Iconomoff,
and Major Groueff. It ig added, however, that such
a combination is considered impossible on the face of
it. The garrison of Shumla has remained faithful to
Prince Alexander, and is stated to have refused to
recognise the Provisional Government. On account
of the understarding between Russia and the Pro-
visional Government, a number of persons fearing the
consequences of Russian predominance have left
Bulgaria and arrived in Roumania. Among them
are M. Stojanoff and several Russian Nihilists serving
as officers on board three Bulgarian war vessels.
According to some private advices the revolu-
tion broke out just as Prince Alexander had
inspected the Slivnitza positions, and was about
to proceed to inspect the trcons at Widdin. The
statement current here that the Prince had gone up
the Danube in his yacht is regarded as unfounded,
nothing having been seen of the yacht by the Rou-
manian authorities on the Danube. More creait is
attached to a report that the Prince is at present con-
fined in a monastery near Sofia. It is also rumoured
that M. Karaveloff has been arrested. Travellers
for Constantinople by the Oriental express were
stopped yesterday-at Rustchuk and were only allowed
to proceed to-day. All telegrams are stopped at
Rustchuk, where admission to the telegraph office is
refused even to the clerks; the telegraphic superin •
tendent being alone in communication with the Pro-
visional Government. Telegrams in transit are
likewise stopped, with the exception of certain mes-
sages for Russia.
6 r.m.

Nothing is yet known here as to the whereabouts of
Prince Alexander. Rumours are current of an itn-
pending military movement at Widdin and other
places in favour of the Prince. The Bulgarian
authorities have forbidden all Bulgarians to cross the
Danube into Roumania.
3 r.m.

_
Communication has been re-established between
Roumania and the towns on the Damube littoral, but
there is no news whatever from Sofia, all intercourse
between the frontier and the interior of Bulgaria
keing still cut off. In political circles in Roumania
the belief prevails that the revolutionary movement
was accomplished with the aid of M. Karaveloff and
that the internment of the Bulgarian ex-Premier is
not to be taken seriously. The exclusion of M.
Radoslayoff from the Provisional Government is
accounted for by his known devotion to the person of
the Prince.
EVENING.

It is reported that M. Stambuloff, the President m
the Bulgarian Chamber, who is at Tirnovo, has placed
himself at the head of the protesting party and is
endeavouring to organise meetings in favour of Prince
Alexander. Advices from Widdin intimate that there
is dissatisfaction in the army at the revolution, and
that the lower classes of the population are still
ignorant of what has happened.
The most conflicting rumours are in circulation in
Bucharest regarding the Prince, and every item of in-
formation tending to show where he ia eagerly dis-
cussed. The only positive statement on the subject is
that the Prince's yacht left Rustchuk, with troops,
under the command of Captain Angeloff, at 11 o'clock
on Saturday morning to await His Highness at Loin
Palanka.

THE PRINCE KIDNAPPED—ATTITUDE OF
THE GARRISONS.
(Times Telegrams.)
BUCHAREST, Aug. 24.
Prince Alexander, prisoner on board a yacht of
which the officers are devoted to Russia, passed
Giurgevo at 2 a.m. on his way to Reni Russi, in Rus-
sian Bessarabia. It is probable that he will be kept
in confinement there for a time.

It is now beyond doubt that the whole conspiracy
against the Prince was led by M. Zankoff, who secured
the co-operation of the Kustendjil regiment. The
Prince, after a short confinement in a monastery, was
sent to Rahova and thence to Reni.

The Widdin garrison, under Major Uzurnotf, has
made a pronunciamiento in the Prince's favour.
A movement of Russian troops towards Reni is
reporteo.
A great many anti-Russian Bulgarians continue to
arrive in Roumania.
LATER,

CiTil war has broken out in Bulgaria. A new
Provisional Government of loyalists has been con-
stituted at Tirnova, under the presidency of M.
Stamtouloff. Everywhere the regiments are de-
claring for the Prince. In Philippopolis the pro-
clamation of the insurgent Government was torn
up and publicly burnt. The Nish garrison paraded
the streets this morning, preceded by bands which
played the Prirce's march, and were acclaimed with
immtnse enthusiasm. Officers and men publicly took
the oath to fight and die for their Prince, Alexander
the Liberator. -

M. Karaveloff seems to be innocent. Ha is in
prison at Sofia. M. ZAnkoff and the Metropolitan
Clement, both bribed by Russia, falsely made use of
his name in issuing proclamations. M. Karaveloff
was arrested before the Pr'nee, but the Prince was
made to belieTe that be bad turned traitor.

The Commandant at Tirnova telegraphed to thi
Bulgarian agent at Bucharest to-day, asking if the
Prince was here. A telegram came to the same
effect from Widdin, whence it appears that the in-
surgents no longer hold the telegraph offices.' The
Commandant at Tirnova says the Roumeliot army
will not submit to a Government of traitors. Colonel
Mutkuroff, at Philippopolis, is working actively to
organise the counter-revolution.
M. Radoslayoff did not join the insurgent Govern-
ment, and protested against the use made of his name
by M. Zankoff. Protests have also been made by
Panitza, Petroff, and Nicolaieff, The anti-Russian
refugees in Roumania are now drawing up a collective
protest.
The fact remains, however, that the Prince has
been kidnapped and taken to Reni Masi. It is
believed that he will be confined there until the
Russian party is by force made paramount in
Bulgaria.