The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-01-02 00:00:00

THE SERVO-BULGARIAN DIFFICULTY:

BELGRADE, Saturday.
The Servian troops evacuated Bulgarian territory
yesterday afternoon. The Bulgarians, it is stated,
inmiediAtely advanced as they retired, and occupied
the whole territory of Bregova, Adlieh, and the banks
of the Timok. This action, it is pointed cut here,
-constitutes an infringement of the provision con-
tained in the armistice, stipulating that the troops of
either country are not to occupy the evacuated terri-
tory until five days after the withdrawal. This viola-
tion has been reported to the Servian authorities by
the commander of the Timok Division, and the
Government have called attention to the fact in the
proper quarter, and raised a formal protest.
Contrary to the-incorrect reports recently circu-
lated, it is affirmed hero that there are over 3000
Bulgarian prisoners in Servia, 2590 of whom are at
Belgrade. It is added that an exact list of the pri-
soners was handed to the Military Commission.
SOFIA, Saturday Night.
Prince Alexander made his entry into the capital
to day, on his return from Pirot, at the head of six
regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and
three tatteries of artillery. The town was gaily deco-
rated with flags, and two triumphal arches had been
erected—one at the entrance to the town, bearing the
inscription, " Honour and Glory to the Victors," the
other, near the palace, inscribed, " Slivnitza," " Drago-
man," " Tsaribrod," "Pirot." The Prince and the
troops met with a most enthusiastic reception, and
wero loudly cheered by the people. To-night the
town is illuminated in honour of the occasion.
SOFIA, Dec. 28, 1'2.10 p.m.
The Bulgarian Government has addressed a note
to the Great Powers with regard to the acts of
aggression recently committed by the Servians. The
note concludes by requesting the good offices of the
Great Powers, through whose intervention the sus-
pension of hostilities and the conclusion of an armis-
tice were effected, in order that complete satisfaction
may he given to the Bulgarian troops by Servia who,
the note says, wishes to renew the tactics which she
employed before the declaration of war. The Ser-
vians entered Pirot yesterday before the expiration of
the delay fixed by the commission, and fired upon the
Bulgarian gendarmes who were left there to do police
duty, wounding two of them. The Bulgarian cora-
mander, after protesting against this act, withdrew
from the town. Many families who resided in Pirot
have migrated to Bulgaria.

BELGRADE, Dec. 28.
The Servian authorities yesterday resumed pos-
session of Pirot. It is announced here that the
Bulgarian troops have completely sacked Pirot,
carrying off everything of any value, even including
the large bell of the church. The inhabitants state
that these acts of devastation took place just before
the Bulgarians evacuated the town. King Milan, in
tlrt name of the Crown Prince, has given 5000 francs
to be distributed among the poorer inhabitants. A
Royal ukase has been issued ordering the suspension
of the ordinary law in the district of Pirot.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 28.
The formal negotiations for the conclusion of peace
between Servia and Bulgaria have not yet been com-
menced. The Porte is awaiting detailed reports from
Madjid Pasha regarding his mission to Sofia. The
ambassadors have informed the Porte that an active
exchange of views is proeeeding between the Powers
regarding Ronnielia. M. Schmidt, Inspector of
Customs at Alexandria, has definitely declined the
post of director of the ceded revenues, offered to him
by the Council of Administration of the Public Debt.
PRINCE ALEXANDER AND THE CZAR.
The Standard correspondent telegraphing .on
Tues:lny from Sofia, says:
Two of the Ministers, MM. Karaveloff and Zanoff,
are opposed to the projected journey of the Prince to
Sr. Petersburg, and are trying to bring about an agree.
ment with the Porte and a visit of the Prince to
Constantinople, but MM. Stoiloff and Zankoff, the
favourites of the Prince, plead for a Russo-Bulgarian
reconciliation. The Prince still continues undecided.
EIGHT HUNDRED SOLDIERS FROZEN TO
DEATH.
The Roumelian Militia will be sent home without
delay. Twenty thousand Bulgarian soldiers are to be
quartered in Sofia, five thousand at Tsaribrod, three
thousand at Trn, five thousand at Kustendil, three
thousand at Radomir, one thousand at Presnik, one
thousand at Slivnitza, three thousand at Orkanieb,
three thousand at Samakoff, and two thousand at
Dubnitza—a total of forty-seven thousand men in the
districts south of the Balkans. Thirty thousand
men will be quartered in the Widin district. In the
course of the last fortnight eight hundred soldiers
have been frozen to death.

"Row old are you?" asked a justice of the peace
of Jena Webster, who was under arrest for stealing
chickens." "I dunno." "When were you 120rn ? "
"What am de use of my tellin' you about my
bufday ? You ain't gwinter make me no bufday present
nohow."

A widow whose age might have been 40 went into
business in New York a few weeks ago, and the first
move was to get a sign painted. The services of a
sign painter were secured, and when he finished his
work he put on his " imprint "by placing his initials
"W. A H.," down on the left-hand corner of the
sign. When the widow came to criticise the work
she queried, "What does W. A. H.' stand for ? "
"Why, 'Wanted, A Husband," replied the painter.
"Oh, yes--I see," she mused. "It was very thought.,
ful in von. and here is a dollar extra 1" -