The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
THE MACEDONIAN MASSAGRES.
Every Day Horror is Piled on Hor-
ror in Sofia TeIegrams.

Sofa, Bulgaria, Sept. 12.-With the
arrival of new and sensational reports
of the wholesale masascres Of Chris
tians in Macedonia, the situation here
is hourly becoming more alarming. If
the latest messages, which state that
go, 600 Bulgarians have been slaughter
ed in the districts of Okrida and
Leren, shall be confirmed, no doubt
exists that the Government will be
forced to order the mobilization of the
army Immediately.
According to information brought
by a courier to the revolutionary
paper, Autonomye, force of Alban-
| ians, assisted By Turkish regular
forces, acting under orders direct from
Yildiz Kiosk, massacred the entire
Bulgarian Christian population of the
Okrida and Leren districts.
Fearful descriptions are given OF the
sights seen there, the soldiers slaugh-
tering men, women and children IN
every direction, displaying barbar
ism never before witnessed.
The number of killed is not stated
in the courier's dispatches, but ac-
cording to reports from other sources
the total number of the victims will
reach O,000.
Oficial circles are SO far without in
formation regarding the reported
massacre, but in view CT the charac-
ter of the later advices from Macedo--
MIA, it is feared the news is only too
true.
Rumors are current that at council
of the ministers today it was decided
to mobilize Immediately the first and
second army divisions. This is ofici-
ally denied, but we'll informed persons
do not doubt that the Cabinet, which
is meeting in council daily, is serious
ly considering such measure.
A deputation of leading professors
and representatives of the professional
classes yesterday waited upon the
ministers and urged the Government
to order immediate mobilization.
Premier Petrof replied to the delega-
ton that the ministry was unable to
admit the necessity for such step at
the present moment.
The Turkish Government is believed
to have at the present moment no less
than $4,000 soldiers in the vilayet OF
Adrianople, large bodies Of them with
in ten to fifteen kilometers of the Bull
garian frontier. Confronted with such
situation, it is argued that Bulgaria
would be amply Justified in mobilizing
the first and second army divisions,
the headquarters of which are at Sofia
and Philippopolis and which comprise
the forces nearest the Turkish frontier.
The Government appears to be firm
| Iv resolved to avoid giving Turkey the
slightest pretext for declaring hostili-
| ties and is doing it's utmost to restrain
| the war fever. The situation, how
ever, is rapidly becoming worse and
popular excitement is increasing. The
Bulgarians are singularly undemon-
strative and self:restrained, and are
| not accustomed to give vent to their
feelings in popular demonstrations and
noisy PROFESSIONS. Sofa and the coun
try generally are outwardly as calm as
| in the most peaceful times, but people
| who know the Bulgarians say this
calm is more to be feared than any
outward evidence that they realize the
fearful condition of their brethren in
Macedonis.
An important dispatch received here
from Ria states that the lns0rgenG
chiefs entrusted with the leadership of
the outbreak in Eastern Macedonia
have met at Piria and completed their
| plans.
An engagement is reported to have
occurred between a force of insurgents
and Turkish troops at Suchindo', IN
which not single revolutionist was
killed, while the Turks lost heavily.
Telegrams from Burgas say the Bull
garian population is fast disappearing
from the district Of Losengrad, and
that everyone unable to escape to the
Bulgarian frontier is killed. Five
hundred fugtitives have arrived at
Burgas from Tekengea. They state
that in the surrounding villages the
Turks search the houses for guns, fail
ing to find which they force the pea
SAINTS to buy guns. These fugitives re-
port that two men, one aged 100 years
and the other IS were impaled by the
Turks in the course Of their search.
The war Office here is greatly concern
ed over the increasing number of de-
serters who go to join the insurgents.