New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-03
FRESH FLAMES IN THE BALK4NS.
BULGARIAN DEMANDS CAUSE A SENSATION
IN NCONsTANTINOPLE.

Constantinople. Feb. 2.-The Bulgarian Agent
has presented note TO the Turkish Govern
ment pointing out the seriousness OF the oc-
currences In the Vilayet OF Uskub. where 500
Bulgarians have beer arrested on the charge OF
storing arms The Agent further alleged that
many Of them had been tortured to death, and
that women and girls had been outraged and,
as a result were dying. Therefore the Agent
urgently demanded immediate cessation Of
the oppression. the withdrawal OF the military
surrounding the locality, the transfer Of all
prisoners to Uskub for trial. and the dismissal
Of a number of officials.
The note has caused considerable sensation
among the Turkish Ministers and at the Palace.
Trouble between Bulgaria and Turkey has been
brewing for years past. Matters nearly came TO a
head at the time OF the war between Greece and
Turkey and was probably only averted by the non
success Of the Greek forces.
As cablcd to the Associated Press from London
on January 2S the Constantinople correspondent Of
The Standard" telegraphed:
"The Minister for War Ria Pacha has been
ordered 10 prepare eighty regiments. with mini
mum strength of seven hundred men each. FOR
service in Rumelia next spring. The attitude Of
Bulgaria IS causing uneasiness. and the Porte mas
sent renonstrances to Sofia
While Russia and Austria succeeded in prevent
Ing Bulgaria from openly siding with Greece last
year IT is generally understood that Bulgaria and
Servia at about that time came TO some definite
understanding in the event OF serious trouble with
Turkey and Bulgaria took advantage OF the lat
ters difficulties to press the demand for the crea-
tion of i've Bulgarian bishoprcs in Macedonia.
The Turkish Government yielded apparently, but
Il was not until November last that Turkey finally
acceded 10 grant three Bulgarian bishops.
one at Kukus another at Me!nk. and a third at
Strumnitza Even then. according 10 dispatch
from Constantinople TO the Frankfort Zeitung.
Turkey aid not Yield until Informed by the Bul-
garian Government that unless the promised oerats
were granted before 10 o'clock a. m on NoVefhDer
3 Bulgaria would declare her Independence
In anv case Il is safe to assume that any action
taken BY Bulgaria is irstia ted by Russia, and mo
protest just made by the Bulgarian Agent at CON-
stantinOLle may bs the rst step in the direction or
troublesome Eastern Question"
Another feature OF the Eastern situation Is the
unsettled state OF Armenia The Vienna corre-
spondent Of THE London Daily Telegraph. as an
nounced in that paper January 2S, said II was
| reported that the kurds were devastating. Ar
I menian villages In the neighborhood OF Russian n
vuayets and that the Armenians were retalatng.
| The correspondent added that complete anarchy
prevailed in the Asiatic provinces Of Turkey.
Russia s about to present "A note 70 Turkey de
manding payment OF the whole balance OF the
/ Russo-Turkish indemnity. amounting TO S+o,-
op0 OO with the view Of making the Sultan more
doce in the settlement Of the Cretan question. and
I'm order 10 compel Turkey 10 accept Prince George
OF Greece the candidate Of Russia, as Governor or
the Island Of Crete: