The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03


whom they have suffered no less than havs
the DuIgsrisns and the Servians.
II We were TO judge only by oflcial
Ottoman telesrsms or by the inspired news
In the Austrian and Russian newspApep,
II tranquility does not reign IN Macedonia,
order 10 In fair way n being resstsblishsd
by the Ottoman troops. II 10 said that the
few existing bands have been pursued by
the Turkish soldiers and that Tho Bulgarian
brisands arc about to be crushed; II u an
old trick OF all governtnents 70 call insur-
gents brigands This 10 far from the real
truth. The very fact that In spite Of the
inclen,ency Of the SEASON. In spite Of tho
snow that still covers the mountains land
the weather IL far more harmful TO tho in
surgents, who And Il dificult to obtain
subsistence from the country. than to the
troops. whose commissariat is assured by
convoys), many well-armed bands hold the
field. showing that the movement IL far
more serious than u admitted
In month or five weeks. when the snow
has melted everywhere and the mountains
are wholly free. the number Of guerrillas
will DO multiplied a. II by magic. Another
fact that shows how the insurrection has
become the dominating idea Of the Bull
garian population Ii the continued exodus
of women and children into Bulgaria. These
unfortunates only take refuge In the princi-
pality because their husbands, their fathers,
their brothers. are already In arms in the
mountains against the Turks or are making
ready to join the fighters. With their
women and children in safety the men
need no longer worry about protecting
the lives Of their dear ones against the
vengeance OF their enemies. they can give
up all their thoughts to fighting,
Certainly II the Bulgarian Government
were to refuse pitilessly to allow these
women and children to enter the country,
it would greatly embarrass the internal
committees of Macedonia and might inter-
fere in some measure with tho general spread
Of the insurrection. Rut aside from the
simplest principles Of humanity-for the re-
lection OF these swarms Of women and
children would mean condemnng them to
death by throwing them into the hands OF
the enemy's soldiery-important political
reasons inperatively forbid that Bulgaria
should thus dh honor herself In the face of
the civilized world.
II any Ministry dared to take such action
hours: . revolution, against which the
Government would be powerless, for 1t
would be unable TO count on the army, In
which officers Of Macedonian birth are
very numerous, would Immediately over
throw the Cabinet and would. perhaps,
overthrow Prince Ferdtnand's throne.
Turkey has already protested to the
Government at Sofia against the asylum
given to women and children. hut the reply
OF the President Of the Council, NJ. Daneif.
must have shown her that she was losing
time and trouble in trying to get satisfaction
In that matter, As for preventing the peo-
pie in Bulgaria from allowing arms, ammu-
milton and money to pass over into Mace
donia. the Government could not do 1t II
it were to mobilize the whole army and
spread 1t In q Gordon along the whole
frontier.
Fighting Ia going on with great bitterness
not only In all districts OF Macedonia close
to the Bulgarian frontier, but In the neigh
borhood Of MonAstir and at tho very gates
Of Ochrida. the insurgents knowing that
they have no quarter to expect. and no
mercy to hope for. They are carrying on
their guerrilla warfare with a. much luck
as skill. constantly harassing the Turkish
columns, and reducing them to great straits
and dedimating them. without ietting
them come near themselves most Of the
time. column Is searching the noun
tains in the district where band has been
seen. when suddenly heavy fire Il poured
into its front The Ottoman rihsmen rush
forward and find nobody. but the firing
opens in greater force on the rear; they
rush back and then the attack Is made on
the right flank or the left hanl., made by
an enemy that keeps constantly invisible.
The result IL a certain mum ,er Of men
killed and wounded on the Turkish side,
and the PROCESS IL kept up day IL, and day
out Sometimes when the bands feel sure
Of success they do not hesitate 70 fight
Ochida on March 80. when the inst rgents
surprised large body Of Turkish troops
and completely defeated 1t.
In many places the telegraph lines have
been broken The railroads must be re-
guarded by detatohments stationed all
along the route TO prevent the tearing
up Of the track and attacks on the trains,
At Mustaphs-pasha on the Adrianople
line, close to the Bulgarian frontier, the rail-
road bridge was destroyed over night by
Bulgarian COMMITTEE" troops. Nobody
can understand the point OF this unless II
was to put them In practice before going
into Macedonia to fight. INSoMINAro.