New-York tribune., 1903-04-25
AT MITROVITZA.
UNHAPPY CHRISTIANS.
Fearing to LeaUe Their Huts and
Plough the Fields.

Especial to The New-York Tribune by French caheh
Copyright: 1909 The Tribune Association)
Mitrovitza. Macedonia, via London, April "a
The state of terror existing here surpasses that
prevailing at Monastir. The Christian popula-
tion is not between two fires, as in the other
district, where il is menaced and plundered by
both Turks and Bulgarian committees The
Christians in Mtrovitza are mainly Serbs 10
whom the Bulgarian committees are hardly
known The Turkish and Albanian population
is at white heat. 1t was incensed months ago
when the Russian consulate was esta blished.
It's passions have been in1amed by the slaughter
of Albanians and the death sentence of popu-
lar hero Stcherbina's murderer. The pulses OF
the Mussulmans are now beating so feverlshly
that there may be general massacre II the
word be passed or a single sword swung. The
Turkish army repulsed the Albanians against
its will. Two men at a cannon were shot down
by their commanding officer for refusing to work
their guns against the Albanians. Three trials
by Turkish court-Tnartial were required De
fore the verdict demanded by Russia was Sc
cured. The murderer and his accomplice were
sent out of Mitrovitza to Uskub with strong
escort of five hundred Turks for rurnors were
rife in the streets that they would be rescued
They would not have been sentenced to oeath
If Mashkow, the Russian Consul from UsKuo
had not appeared upon the scene and displayed
great firmness in insisting upon the execution
of the supreme penalty. Mashkow and Tonk-
kollia, the Russian consul Prisrand, and all the
Servian representatives assert that they mo-
mentarily expect to receive an assasslns puHel
They say that they do not feel safe even in the
presence of their own servants When any OF
them leave the consuates they are fnsulted
in the streets. I saw a group of young Turks
deliberately spit in front of the Servian con-
sui, who was walking in the street. and then
mutter sneers and curses. I also witnessed the
anger of a Turkish yelled virago who sought
to compel the sister of one Of the consuls 10
get off the sidewalk and make room for her
passage. The European woman held her
ground tenaciously and a bodyguard forced her
yelled tor1nentor to turn aside. Like other for
eigners here have been insulted at every turn
ing Of the streets.
When consuls having the authority of great
governments behind them are openly affronted
the Sultan's Christian subjects not spared
They are in a state of alarm, dreading TO leave
their miserable huts. They do not venture 10
plough the fields or walk to the bakers shop for
bread They panic stricken in the towns
where troops heavily massed. and NOBODY
knows what is going on in the villages and open
country.
The Bulgarian committees cannot be helo re-
sponsible for the terrorism prevailing in this DIS
trct The AIbanians are accountable for exist
ing conditions.
The Sutan's commission is reported to have
reached Ipek and to have failed to concllate
the chiefs Of the clans, even with plentlful
supply of gold for enforcing their appeals Tor
peace The kamakan here says the cohnls-
sion does not despair of effecting settlement
If peace be ordered 1t will be purchased from
the clans
Troops are constantly coming into this town
Over twenty battalions are now here for the
protection of the Russian consulate, whatever
may happen in the Christian districts