The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-07-19
MONTENEGRO.
The Triumph of the Brave Mountaineers-
Withdrawal of the Turkish Troops.

The Triumph of the Brave NIountaineers-
Withdrawal of the Turkish Troops.
IFrom the Chicago Times.l
The withdrawal of the Turkish forces
from Montenegro is an acknowledgment
either that it is impossible to reduce this
principality on the rocks, or confession
that the troops which have been operat-
ing there are more urgently needed south
OF the Danube. Whatever the motive,
the triumph of the rebels in the Black
mountains is complete, and, for the first
time in several years, they are at liberty
to resume the habits of peace and the
customs of civilized government, so far
as they are acquainted with them. The
ultimate success of Russia being con-
coded, the subordination Of Montenegro
to the Porte is, no doubt, forever at an
end, and another change is accomplished
on the map Of Europe.
Turkey obtained possession of the
principality toward the end of the four
teenth century. Its neutrality-suspicious.
was stubbOrnly maintained, however,
and its local government was exercised
for three centuries by Prince Bishops,
until the last of them, Danilo l., pro-
claimed himself secular monarch. The
conflict between Montenegro and Turkey
has been incessant, the mountaineers and
the Porte supplying each other with pre-
texts for war for $50 years. The Turks
have sent, at various times, an army of
upward of 100000 men to subiugate q
little sterile rookery, 1,700 miles in area,
having an entire population Of about
12O, 900, no standing army, not a seaport,
and not revenue enough to support
Prince; and the victories have been
fairly divided between the rebels and the
Ottomans, but no definite result was
ever brought about which satisfied both.
In TIA the Turks took 10000 Montene-
grins prisoners. In 1896, 10000 Turks
were slain in the mountain Businesses.
Wars occurred, with periodical interrupt
tions, from the beginning of the present
century; and, in 1858, treason in the
Montenegrin camp attempted to accom-
plish what the arms of the Turkish en-
pire had SO repeatedly undertaken in
vain. An uncle of Prince Danilo was
detected in collision with Ottoman en-
issaries, and in 1860 Danilo himself was
assassinated, having fallen under SINH
lar suspicion.
The war terminated by the abrupt
withdrawal of the Turkish forces was
begun in the autumn of 1876, on account
of the sympathy of the Montenegrins
with the Insurgents in Herzegovina and
Bosnia The blockade of the fortress of
Nicsics, commenced in April, 1876, was
stabbornly resisted, but it finally yield
ed, and was garrisoned by Ottoman
troops On July 2, 1876, Montenegro
and Servia jointly declared war against
Turkey, Montenegro's specific demand
being that the Turkish garrison should
be withdrawn, and the fortress manned
by her own troops. Defeats of the
Servians by the Turks, and of the Turks
by the Montenegrins was the almost in
variable order Of battle until after the
capture of Alexinatz, Servia on Oct. 81.
Mukhtar Pasha was then able to consol-
idate his forces against Montenegro. An
armistice of six weeks was arranged,
which was afterward extended during the
sitting OF the conference at Constantine
pie. Peace was established with Servia,
but the Porte refused to cede Nicsics and
the mountaineers resumed the offensive.
How many thousands of Turks have
fallen in this monstrously unequal con-
test it is impossible even to speculate;
not less than rs, 000.upon Turkish state
ments of the troops sent to operate there.
It is not hazardous, in the light of i'm
pending events, to surmise that the last
Turkish commander has led his turbaned
mercenaries up the heights.
The fate of Montenegro, in the read
justment Of tributaries which must fol-
low settlement of the subsection of
Turkey by Russia, lies between Russia
and Austria. The people are Slavs, of
the non-united Greek church; but geo.
graphically their natural dependence is
upon Austria.