The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
SQUADRON OF BLACK SEA
FLEET LEAVES At ONCE
Premier Petroff Visits Macedonian
Frontier and Takes Somewhat OPP
tlmistic View of the Situation.
Outlook Not Serious.

of the tussian Black Sea fleet has been
ord.ted to sail for Turkish waters.
Notification of this move has been tele-
graphed from Sebastapol to the Russian
ambassador at Constantinople.
The dispatch of the squadron is intend
ed to emphasize Russia's intention OF
exacting complete compliance with her
demands to satisfy her for. the murder by
a Turkish gendarme Of her consul at
Monastir.
The following kilograms exchanged be-
tween the foreign office and Russian
representatives abroad show the first
steps taken as a consequence of the mur-
der Of NJ Rostkoviski, the Russian con-
sui at Monastir:
First Steps Taken.
On August IL, Count Lamsdorff. the
foreign minister. telegraphed to Mr..
Zinovieff, Russian minister at Constan-
tinople, that neither the Sultan's express
sion of regret, the visit of Prince Ahmen,
the sultans son, to the ambassador, nor
the expression of sympathy by the grand
vizier and other high Turkish dignitar-
isfaction for the murder of M. Rostko-
viski.
When M. Cheroa, the Russian consul.
was murdered at Mitrovitza, continued
Count Lamsdorff, the czar took into ac
count the fact that the murderer was an
Albanian, whose tribe was in rebellion
against the government The outrage at
Monastir, however, was of quite another
character and called for the severest pun
ishment. The czar, therefore. ordered that
no promises on the part OF the Turkish
government should be accepted, but that
demands should be made as follows;
Russias Demand.
The immediate punishment of the MUIR
derer; the arrest and exempory punish
ment Of the person who fired at M. Rost-
kovislxi's carriage; the immediate produce
ton of positive proof that the vail of Mon
astir has been actually banished, the inn
mediate severe punishment of all the civil
and military officials responsible for the
murder.
In addition to these demands, Ambassa-
dor Zinovieff was instructed, as a means
of general pacification in the vilayet of
Monastir, to make the following demands:
The immediate severe punishment Oh
all Turkish officials, regarding whose
outrageous behavior a report was made
by the director of the Russian consul
ate at Uskub, after making tour OF
the yillayet of Kossivo In company with
the Austrian consul; the reinstatement
of Ismail Kaki, who was dismissed, but
whose efficiency was endorsed by Hilml
Pasha, inspector general or Macedonia
the Immediate release of the peasants
on whom. according to the reports OF
the Russian and Austrian consuls, the
Turks perpetrated atrocities; the instant
~ pichn OFFICIALS
of the administration of Salonica and
Prisrend whose malpractices have been
brought to light, and finally that the for
eign officers employed in Macedonia shall
Immediately enroll fresh gendarmerie
and policemen for the requisite protection
of the peaceable population and the In
PRODUCTION of legislative order.
On August IL Count Lamsdorf tele-
graphed to the Russian diplomatic agent
at Sofia that the imperial government
could not obtain adequate satisfaction
for the assassination of M. Rostkovisl<i,
and therefore had already taken meas
ures to secure redress.
Bulgaria Must Not Misunderstood.
Count Lamsdorff impressed on the
diplomatic agent that 1t was his duty
TO see that Russia's vigorous attitude to-
wards the porte was not interpreted by
the Bulgarian government OF the Mace
DOMAIN committee as indicating any
change in the political programme laid
down in previous government communi-
cations.
1t would be a dangerous error, added
the Russian foreign minister. on the part
of the principality to consider Russia's
present action as fostering the revolu-
tionary agitation of the Macedonian
committee, whose continued criminal ac-
tivity was a hindrance to the pacifica-
tion Of the vilayets, and therefore. to
the introduction OF reforms.
From the Russian consular reports 1t
was clear that the peaceful Christian
population suffered at the hands of the
revolutionary bands as much as they
did from the outrages and robberies COM
mitted by Turks. All these circum-
stances, concluded Count Lamsdorff,
proved the necessity for a more vigor-
GUS counter action on the part of the
Bulgarian government with view to
the suppression of the troubles in the
Balkan peninsula.
Intervention Is Necessary.
Sofia. Bulgaria, August 15.-Premier
Petroff has just returned from visit to
the Macedonian frontier where 1t touches
the district of Dubnitza, and he takes a
somewhat optimistic view of the situation
in Macedonia. He believes the outbreak
will be confined to the vilayet of Mon
astir.
When interviewed today by representa-
tive of the Associated Press, he discussed
the condition of affairs frankly and at
length. Regarding the reports that Bull
garia was responsible for the outbreak,
he pointed out that the center of the dis
turbed area is nearly 200 miles from the
bulgarian frontier and Is separated from 1t
by a. country largely inhabited by Turks.
Consequently. he said, 1t is foolish to say
that the movement is aided by bands from
Bulgaria and that it is equally unrea-
sonsble TO suggest that the arms of the
Insurgents came from Bulgaria.
He asserted that as matter OF Iaet'
! tho erns used by the insurrectionists are
Il ali Of French manufacture and that most