New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-07
MACEDONIAN COMMITTEE.
Work Done By This Body of Patriots
for Their Land.

I have been asked TO deScr.SS ths Aacsoonlau
juntas in various cities OF Europe and America,
and briefly TO tell the story OF the mysterious Mac
edOnian Committee. their parent stock In the Bal
kan, writes Vladimir Andreien TsanOn IN The
Boston Transcript" In view OF the extent which
the present Macedonian revolution Is assuming
and of the magnitude Of the battles reported to
have taken place during the last fortnight. there
exists a widespread curiosity 10 know the nature
OF this committee which successfully defy and
repulse the trained regiments Of the Turkish Army
1t appears that the Turks did not suffer such
heavy casualties during the whole course OF the
Gr9co-Turkish War the Macedonian insurgents
inflicted upon them in two battles already fought
But the readers curiosity to learn tho secrets OF
the Macedonian Committee be gratifed only
to certain extent. seeing that otherwise the
rotary Of the American committee would incur the
censure OF the central authorities. Before the
break the strictest secrecy entoined. At the
present time. however. when actual war has begun,
with considerable hopes OF success. the entire
cret organization and its notorious modes OF pro-
cedure. deeply interesting they must BE- may BE-
described in full to the American public.
shall give an account. first of tho yutreshua
Organizatsia, the organization which declared the
rebellion. and then OF the Macedonian juntas out
side Of Macedonia Imperium in imperio Is the
only word which adequately describes the control
Of the Macedonian COMMITTEES upon affairs In
European Turkeyy~Therc never existed more
powerful revolutionary system. on a larger scale
in the face of greater obstacles. When cor,par.d
volumes have been written. a mere under
graduates play performed by students OF Russian
universities. When compared 70 It. the Taiplnz
rebellion was but huge and forrniess mass: even
the Cuban and Filipino Instructions with Agui-
naldo thrown In are outclassed BY the Macedonian
Committee When speak Of the Macedonian
Committee I mean the vutreshna Orvanfza+sta
tho Organization OF the Interior" which has ex-
isted for the last seven years. which although II
mas branches IN Bulgaria. is entirely independent
OF any Sofia committees and which having
foned the plans OF the Sofa committees and re-
sisted the overtures OF Prince Ferdinand has now
achieved supreme command over the revolutionary
situation. and IS fighting for the creation Of an
autonomous Macedonia
DOUBLE SYSTEM IN MACEDONIA.
Two governments rule over the destinies OF Mace
donfa. two armies. two systems Of secret police.
two tribes OF tax gatherers. two Kinds Of courts
the Moslem and the Christian BY day from dawn
TIL dark. 1t is the Turk who carries on his afro
cious misgovernment. BY the aid OF an army OF
-9oSo. he executes the Sultans orders. But at
night the Turkish zaptieh retires 10 the kopak.
the Turkish soldiers retire to the shelter Of their
barracks and the government passes into the svvp,
hands OF the Vutreshna OrEanizatsta Only in the
few populous cities. and when in the conpanv of
comrades. does the Turk I'm Macedonia dare 20 stir
ABROAD at night When the dead OF night has
faIien upon that unhappy land. the committees
bands sweep quickly across country stealing their
way. They hold meetings in the purely Christian
villages. calling out the peasants to drill The
members Of the band lend their rifles 10 the VII
layers, instructing them how to handle then,
teachins them the rudiments Of tactics teaching
them above all that God Is not on the side ~ the
biggest battalions. Before dawn one more village
has been won to the revolution A SUNNY Of arms
Is sent IL as soon as the committee has installed
properly constituted local branch The hand
passes to another village and to a third travelling
and drilling by night. hiding on the hills nv dav
Allah would turn pale at the sight OF the newest
repeating rifles ammunition and dynamite that re-
pose under the haystacks and In the roots of the
pine trees OF the SIMPLEST and most submissive
dog of-a-Christian' village in Macedonia The
total number Of rifles is estimated at 5000 modern
weapons all smuggled within the last seven years:
AZ destined 20 reappear from their hiding places
when the signal Is given The principal object In
the existence OF the Macedonian COMMITTEES has
been to arm the defencelss Christians. its second
ooJect' to perfect a standing army Of fn=.1-seuts
Inc standing army Of the Vutreshna Organiz atsta
numbers some 1000 insurgents. IN COMPANIES OF
about 100 each band under its voyvoda What this
rebel army does not know OF war the Turk. at
least, cannot teach them. Every lesson Of the
Polish revolution Of 1888 not to mention earlier
revolutions: every device Of General Aguinaldo's
carefully mastered. TacticaIiy the insurgents have
Wov aSoot ny, sl i wIst was expected Of them
picked out the strategic position; they have al
often But the number Of officers Of the Bulgarian
Army who have forsaken their sheltered life in
DOMAIN revolution has been large that the tactics
OF the INSURGENTS have steadily improV ed The re-
rebels routed large Turkish army iaficting a
loss Of 40 killed on the battlefield. is tho best
achievement yet.
THE TNsURGENT SOLDIERS
There is nothing fantastic about the Uniform and
equipment Of the Macedonian insurgents. They
look the soldier much more than does the Turk
AS pack animals are not feasible every fnsurgent
carries his total equipment his back. consisting
OF a Mannlcher or Gras rifle. the official armament
OF the Bulgarian and Greek armies. respectively
a few Berdan rifles and American Martins are
interminsed--also four belts Of cartridges each
two frightened across the waist and one sluug
across each shoulder; revolver and two dynamite
bombs. For seIfdestructfon in case Of capture each
ana kama tstllettol. The insurgent uniform
sembleS that OF the Bulgarian soldier only that il
bility. In place Of boots the insurgents wear
oPintsi-sandals Of cowhiIe. pigskin The wide
sleeves and fools cap is nnise leading He has
even been criticised for appearing IN such fantastic
be between the Turk and mis- Christian rayah the
The mountain IS the Macedonian Komitadgee's
rebel republic C'kOmitadgee' is a Turkish word.
meaning member Of revolutionary committee).
br1gand has disputed his sway. and even the
commands the valley BY day; the komitadgee cOTa-
nandS the mountain 2Iways AS Macedonia "a Is
are whole regions. wider in extent than the White
Mountains where no Turkish battalion dares TO
reconnoitre. I viii remind the reader that Miss
Stone. during six months OF her outrageous cap
ten hours every night across country. OF ana on;
without once coming across Turkish soldier; and
mates the whole situation fer in a wonderful
The great plateau OF Perrin Dag. in Northern
RaZog. near the Bulgarian frontier. Is the revo-
lutionary heaSduaTters OF Ihe norm; - me I11eu
SiS natIirsf fortfacations. In Perrin. where the