Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-09-21
THE BALKAN WAR.

mitted by the Turkish troops in the vii
ayets of Monastir and Adrianople. He
said that orders had been sent to the
authorities concerned to prevent their
repetition, and he gave the Russian am
bassador to understand that the guilty
parties would be punished.
The German ambassador, Baron Mar
schall Won Bieberstein, also had an audi
ence with the Sultan, who showed him
self most optimistic. The latter declared
that the insurrection was drawing to a
close. In fact, it had already been sup
pressed in some districts and the Porte
would, therefore, Immediately issue proc
lamations announcing the resumption
of the application OF the reform scheme.
After the granting of these audiences
an extraordinary council Of ministers
was held at Yildiz Kiosk, and the de-
clarations were continued on Saturday.
1t is understood that the council drew
up fresh instructions to the walls in the
sense of his majesty's declaration.
Official dispatches from the wallis OF
Salonica, Monastir and Adrianople re-
port numerous encounters which resulted
in favor of the Turks.
Some apprehension having apparently
been created, owing to msunderstand-
ing regarding he precise meaning OF
Bulgaria's last note to the powers, eX-
plantations have been given to some
diplomatic agents at Sofia that the
memorandum was not intended as an
ultimatum, but was rather in the nature
of an appeal for the intervention of the
great powers before that intervention
should be too late. The Bulgarian min
istry, it was stated, was determined to
maintain It's attitude of neutrality up to
the last moment, but it feels the impos-
sbiity Of standing by indefinitely while
the Turks extermlnated the Bulgarian
element in Macedonia.
The governments position is rendered
increasingly difficult by the attitude Of
the Macedonian population in Bulgaria,
which, vigorously backed up by the re-
volutionary committees, is persistently
endeayoring to force the governments
hand and provoke hostilities with Tur-
key.
A dispatch from the Monastery of Rila,
Bulgaria, says the condition of the Turk
ish garrison of Melnik, G5 miles north
east Of Saonica, is believed to be ex-
tremely critical. 1t is besieged by bands
of insurgents under the leadership OF
Yankof, Stoyanof, Darvinghof and
Zograiof, all of whom were formerly
Bulgarian officers. The insurgents num-
Der /, 500, while the garrison is believed
to consist of only one battalion. Melnik
is a very important strategic point in the
mountains, commanding the road be-
tween Demirhissar and Razlog.
A company of Turkish soldiers and
Bashi .Bazouks recently found the hiding
place of hundred families of refugees
from the villages Of Dupeni and Echla,
near Rosen. They captured the party,
violated the women aud committed
other atrocities.
The united bands Of Monassief and
Michailof have had an encounter with
the troops near Demir-Kapu, 62 miles
northwest of Salonica. The Turks had
many killed, including two officers.
The London Daily Mails correspon-
dent at Sofia telegraphs zone OF the
revolutionary chiefs has informed me
that the revolutionists are massing thou
sands of men at various points on the
frontier and their laboratories are work
ing incessantly to replenish their stock
of bombs and explosives. They do not
count much on war between Turkey
and Bulgaria, but on the day they hear
that the meeting between the Gar and
Emperor Francis Joseph has not had the
desired result for Macedonia the world
will witness the beginning OF massacres,
burnings and distinctions compared with
which the Turkish atrocities will seem
childs play. The banner of revolution,
it is said, will be unfurled in all the bor-
der districts. Every city and village,
whether the inhabitants arefrends or foes,
will be destroy ed, and such state OF
anarchy will be caused that the Turks
will step out voluntarily and leave the
country to the Macedonian survivors
We have selected the frontier districts
for these final operations so that Europe
may hear the despairing cries of the dy-
ing nation which the Turks would stife. "