Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-13
GENERAL MASSACRE
Of Christians in Macedonia
Predicted at Sofia.
Fighting Already at Sorovitch-l50
Reyolutionists Killed.
Bulgaria Charges Turkey With Helping
Along the Trouble.

Sofia, Aug. 12.-The whole Bulgarian
government takes a decidedly rcssi-
mistic view of the situation and the
officials openly express their fears that
general massacre of the Christians in
Macedonia is inevitable possibly within
four days and most certainly within a
fortnight.
Meanwhile the government continues
to maintain its peaceful attitude but &c
believes that sudden development of
! affairs across the border may at any
moment render the authorities power
less to prevent war.
The reports from Bulgarian official
agents in Macedonia show that affairs
, are rapidly growing worse. The fact
that the Mussulman population is be-
coming excited and congregating in the
mosques is regarded as a bad feature.
! indicating the possibility that a mas
sacre may occur within IA very short
time. 1t is feared that such massa-
ere would cover wide area and in
Guide both the large towns and the
villages, and that the Turkish soldiers
would prove incapable of restraining
the fanatic Mussumans. even IL they
desired 70 do so which is by no means
certain.
The officials here blame Turkey for
the present sudden outbreak. The
bulgarian government is said to be
particularly displcased with Turkeys
action because it had urged the Porte
to leave the villagers in peace, bcliev-
ing that this would result in staving
off the trouble till next year, as the
insurgents seemed to entertain hopes
that the powers would soon intervene.
The government also charges Turkey
with doing less to prevent the insur-
gents from crossing the frontier than
Bulgaria.
1t is everywhere declared that the
present ministry is doing it's utmost to
check the revolutionary movement. but
the situation is reaching a point where
circumstances may prove too strong
for the cabinet. The growing economic
depression in the country constitutes a
dangerous factor in the situation.
The ministry is certainly confronted
with Il complicated problem. The re-
, turn of Prince Ferdinand is quite in
definite 1t is thought now that the
premier will visit the prince of Hun
gary, after returning from his inspec-
zion of the frontier posts.
! The Bulgarian foreign office has re-
ceived very disquieting news from its
agent at Uskub The Musselmans there
are daily gathering in the mosques
and il is feared that a massacre
of the Christians is impending.
officials here express the belief that
Intervention of the powers alone can
prevent disaster.
The most astonishing feature of the
situation is the remarkable quietude
with which the people have received
the news Of the fresh rising in Macedo-
) MIA. The whole outbreak came as n
great surprise, even TO the local reVo-
lutionary committees which were not
prepared for so early rising. In spite
of the stirring appeals of the commit
tees little or no popular enthusiasm is
apparent, not even among the 10000
Macedonian residents of Sofia.
How long this condition will last de-
: ponds largely on the developments in
Macedonia. At present the center of
the disturbances is Monastir, n long
way off. Should the rising spread TO
T the vlayet of Uskub and come near to
| the bulgarian frontier il is probable the
population of Bulgaria win become
aroused.
Salonica, Aug 12-Dr. Mandelstam,
the acting Russian consul at Uskub.
? who has been appointed to succeed NJ.
Rostkovski, the murdered consul at
MoIiastir reached that town, Wednes-
DAY Some anxiety had been felt for
his safety as nothing had been heard of
him since he left his post at USkub a
couple of days ago. The mutesarif of
Uskub district refused to give DIR. Man
delstam an escort. The consul insised
on proceeding to his new post and hav-
ing obtained an escort from Hilmi
Pasha he started on his own RESPONSE
bility across country for Monastir.