New-York tribune., 1876-08-10
THE STORY OF TIE MASsACRES.


THE TURKS /, DESPERATE sTRAITs-sAyAGE HoRDEs
LET LOOSE on TIE BULG.RIANs-MERCILEs
CRUELTY INFLICTED-sLGHT PKOsrECIs OF RE-
FORM
IFRoH A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEI
CoNsrASTINoFLE. July 2O.--At the time of tho
Bulgarian rebellion in May the Turkish Government
was in cXtrcmitics. It's army fully occupied in
herzegovina and along the ScTyian frontier. lt had
to strip the capital of troops in order to hold Philip
popolis and Adrianople. To prevent the spread Of
the rebellion it had recourse the special measure
of simply arming the Moslem population and the
Circassan refugees. These were turned loose upon
Bulgaria with the result of crushing ont every sign
of rebellion in about three weeks time. As there is
a good deal being said just now about atrocities in
Bulgaria. have been at pains 10 collect facts
from correspondents in various parts of the country.
The publications made up to this time have referred
sCiey to the period Immediately preceding the NIL
OF Sultan Abdul Azz, when indeed Bulgaria was
pandemonium. The armed MoSem population called
Bashi-BazOuks and the CircassiaS seemed TO make il
arue to shoot every Christian on sight and the fields
were absolutely deserted in consequence The
Sayages burned all the rebel villages of course.
Loyal villagers, hearing of their dolngS, would
huddic together in some corner for safety. mIne-
diatcly a squad OF Blshi-Bazouks would pounce
upon them taking or pretending TO take their
band of frightened women and children would be
added to the crowds hockng the cities for shelter.
while another village would be added to the list of
those destroyed. After 200 more villages had
been burned up, and after thousands of men had
been killed ami other thousands arrested for COM
rcity in the rebellion the Bulgarian rising became
4 thing of the past But still the Basbi-}azouks and
Circassians continued their work, and there
was 10 safety except III the cities where
there were regular troops. The regular
troops, although quiet and well be-
hayed in comparison with the Bashl-BazOuks,
were not free from crime. They seized goods in
shops and pundered the markets. They likewise
committed gIaver acts. The pastor of church in
a Bulgarian city testified that soldier came INTO
his courtyard and treated barbarously a Bulgarian
grl whom he found at work there.
The Government made no account of complaints,
and although the rebellion was crushed the country
was ruined.
Just at this stage of affairs occurred the revolu-
ton The new Sultan within three days after his
accession ordered the repression of the Bashi-
Bazoulls. But the Bash-Bazouks declined to be re-
pressed aud for three weeks more outrages contin-
ued to occur spasm0dicay. Wherever the troops
were not, Bashl-BaZOuks were sure 10 appear.
They had now become robbers, pure and simple, IL
they were ever anything else. The answer OF
one of them TO order to surrender stolen property
to its lawful owner illustrates their position: My
King ordered me 10 take this property; 1t is mme
lawfully. The new King cannot take away from
ne what have lawfully acquired" The Bashi-
Bazouks are not at all friends of hshat Pasha and
his plans for equal rights and constitutional gov
omment.
Very slowly aud very leebly the Government has
succeeded IN restoring quiet and confidence among
the wrctchod Bulgarians Letters before ne, writ
ten this week by American friends, testify that it is
nc last safe to travel again in the region south of tho
Balkans But 80 lar | know, not a Circassian
nor a Bashi-Bazouk has been punished for the mur~
ders and rapine committed under the last reign.
or even for the crimes committed since their
license was withdrawn. IL is this that
makes me doubt the possibility of reform
VI any kind Ia Turkey.