Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-19
LITTLE MORE HOPEFUL
General Macedonian Situation
so Considered.
ITALY CAN SEND FLEET
IN FACT, HAS SEVERAL NAVAL
VESSELS NEAR AT HAND.
Russia's Demands on Turkey Were
Formally Presented at Yildiz
Palace Yesterday.
ITALY CAN SEND FLEET

NOW tndt unanlmlty OIL dctlon On the part
of the most interested powers towards
speedier enforcement Of the reforms in
Macedonia seems assured there is a more
hopeful feelin,7 that the trouble will be
confined to its present bounds.
Italy May Send Fleet.
ROME, August 19.-No other power is in
a better position than Italy to quickly send
a fleet to Turkey.
In fact, Italy may almost be considered
as already having a warship on the spot.
as the torpedo boat destroyer Minerva is
off the Island of Lemnos, in the Aegean
and the battleship Re Umberto, which Is
at Agosta, Sicily. can reach Ottoman
waters in about forty hours.
The Italian Mediterranean squadron, now
off Cagliari. Island of Sardinia, has been
ordered to Sicily so as to be nearer the
scene of trouble in Turkey
Russia's Squadron Expected.
CONSTANTINOPLE. Tuesday, August
1S.-The Russian squadron is expected this
afternoon. 1t will anchor in the Bay of
Miada. off the coast of European Turkey.
between Burgas and the entrance OF the
BOsphorus, eighty miles from the latter.
The attitude of Indifference hitherto as
sumed by the Turkish officials toward Rus
sia's action is giving way to one of marked
concern.
More Important Demands.
The porte fears that Russia contemplates
making still more important demands than
contained in the recent note of M. Zino-
vieff. the Russian ambassador such as the
appointment of a Christian governor gen.
eral Of Macedonia.
This idea. however, does not find support
in diplomatic quarters where the conyic-
ton prevails that Russia is working In full
agreement with Austria. .,-- 49,.
No difficulty is anticipated on the part
OF Turkey to the acceptance OF the Russian
demands. with the possible exception Of the
appointment Of European officers to COM
mand the gendarmerte.
This Is likely to arouse opposition and It
Is thought that Russian anticipation there
Of led to the dispatch Of the squadron. the
presence of which was hardly required to
enforce fulhllment Of the other terms
Russia's Demands Presented.
The Russian demands on Turkey, growing
out OF the recent murder Of the Russian
consul at Monastir. M. Rostkovski, were
formally presented at the Yildiz palace to-
day.
Notwithstanding the warning which Rus
sia addressed to the Bulgarian government.
1t Is generally believed here that the Rus
Will dangerously encourage the Macedon-
ians. who. 1t Is asserted, will interpret Rus
sia's action as being the first step toward
intervention in their behalf
The 1nsubOrdinatiOn Of the Turkish troops
is regarded as being one of the greatest
dangers OF the present Balkan crisis.
Soldiers Lack Discipline.
The lack Of discipline among the soldiers
Is marked.
1t Is found necessary to humor them in
order to prevent conflicts between the SOL
diers and their officers.
For instance. regiment, while on the
way from Uskub to Monastir, demanded
that the train be stopped at Salonica for
twelve hours, instead of for the scheduled
half hour, so that the soldiers might amuse
themselves in the town.
After futile endeavOrs to prevail upon the
men to allow the train to proceed the off,
GERS were obliged to grant their demand.
Grave Instances of Insubordination.
The killing of Bulgarian workmen who
were repairing the railroad track near U.s.
kub is another grave instance of the insub-
ordination Of the Turkish troops.
Details of the affair show that a train
load Of Turkish soldiers, soon after leaving
the railroad station at Uskub, not only fred
on and killed three Bulgarians who were at
work on the road. and left the bodies lying
on the line, but some of the soldiers left
the train and pursued five other Bulgarian
the Turks murdered them all in cold blood
Danger Of an Outbreak.
Consular reports received here from Sa-
lonica continue to emphasize the danger of
an outbreak Of Mohammedan fanaticism
there.
The consular representatives have asked
for protection. and the question of again
dispatchng warships to Salonica is being
discussed utatSx NJ h.
powers.
Dispatches from Turkish sources say the
Insurgents have destroyed another village
In Macedonia.
Fear Further Massacres.
The ambassadors Of the powers have
again drawn the earnest attention of the
porte to the fears Of massacres at Salonica
and have demanded the adoption of imme-
diate and effective measures for the protec-
ton of the foreign consulates and the sub
jects of the various powers.
Letters received here from Uskub say
there Is evidence there Of great feeling of
unrest.
The mosques are guarded by troops,s and
1t Is feared they may be attacked.
Monastery Burned.
The monastery Of the Holy Virgin, near
Kitchero. has been burned by AIbanians
-
defenders of the monastery and the insur-
gents. during which both sides lost heavily.
servian refugees are arriving at Uskub
from Dibra, having fed from that place
owing to fear Of a massacre.
The Albanians in that district have
burned number of Bulgarian villages
As Paris Sees It
PARIS. August 19.-It was learned in Of
ficial quarters today that the action OF
Russia in ordering a naval squadron to
Turkish waters may be speedily followed
by important joint naval action on the part
of the powers.
Communications are at present being ex-
changed between the powers relative to a
joint naval demonstration before Salonica
The final determination will depend large
ly upon Russia. but IL q joint demonstra-
ton is determined upon the fieets of France