The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-03-14
Russian Treatment of Turkish Resi-
dents.

The conduct of the Russian troops to-
wards the remnant of Turkish popula-
tons remaining behind in the towns and
villages on the line of march through
Bulgaria to the Balkans, shows the little
cause the poor refugees now fleeing be-
fore the Russian forces had for panic.
According to the testimony Of various
foreign army correspondents who accom-
panied the Russians hither, throughout
the territory occupied by the Russians,
the safety of these people was constantly
assured. Mr.. Forbes says: "Of the null
titudinous atrocities on Turkish refugees,
charged against the Russian soldery
with so great persistent circumstantiality,
by Turkish authorities and their abettors.
| have never found the smallest little of
evidence, and on soul and conscience be-
lieve the allegations to be false" OF
what went on south of the Balkans, Mr..
Forbes does not pretend to speak, as i'm
mediately after the fall of Plevna he was
taken ill and was ordered home by his
physicians; but he says there were plen-
ty of atrocities" charged against the
Russians while north of tine Balkans, and
respecting these he can speak from a
wide range of experience. The Turks
resident throughout Bul garia were per-
emptorily ordered by commands from
,Constantinople to quit their homes and
retire before the advancing Russians. In
most cases they did so; but those who
chose to remain had good reason to con-
graduate themselves that they did SO.
The Emperor had given orders to his
troops, and proclamation to the Bulga-
rian people was widely circulated among
them, even before the Russian forces had
crossed the Danube, forbidding the Turk
ish residents in these territories to be
molested, or in any way disturbed. Mr..
Forbes states, and his testimony is sup
ported by that of Mr.. Edward King, an
American correspondent, that when the
Turkish forces evacuated TirnOva, some
go Turkish families remained behind.
The Bulgarians in this section are bitter
ly hostile to the Turks, much more saw
age in their hostility than the Bulgarians
in the regions near the Balkans. These
people pillaged the houses of the Turks
who had deserted their homes, but as
soon as possible after the occupation of
the town by the Russians, guard was
placed to protect the Turks who re-
NAMED, aud the stolen goods of the van
ished residents were demanded of the
pilagers, and now lie staked up in quar-
tiers, awaiting the return of the owners.
.'To this day." says Mr.. Forbes, "you may
see the Cadi of Sistova walking about
that town with an air as if he owned it;
and in the village of Gorni Lubnica-a
large town few miles south of the Du-
cal headquarters-the Turkish population
are carrying on their accustomed occu-
pations as free from anxiety as though
there was no such thing as war waging
between their kindred and the Russians.
The population of this town consists
nearly one half of Turks, and these peo-
pie dwell contentedly in their cottages
they have reaped their harvests and
threshed their grain, and saunter about
the fields and lanes with turban on head
and none to modest them or make them
afraid" In those instances where pillage
occurred, the testimony is that this was
of deserted residences and no personal
injury was inflicted.
The Bulgarians, it is averred, however,
Walteu only opportunity 10 lhhiC' re-
prisals" for their own recent sutferngs
upon the hands of the Turks, and doubt
less did so in many instances upon flying
fugitives, where there was little proba-
bility these cases would be reported 20
the military authorities. "But Cossack
lsnces, nor Russian sabres,' says Mr..
Forbes, wrought no bsrbarities on de-
fenseless men, women or children
While the Turks remained in their en-
tirety in the mixed villages, the Bulga-
rians did not dare to NEEDLE with them.
Toledo Blade.