Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-22
#iseellanep,ls Reading.
THE BALKAN TROUBLE.
Nature and Probable Consequences Of
the Uprising.

Nature and Probable Consequences Of
the Uprising.
Recent disturbances in the Turkish
provinces of Macedonia and Albania,
practically amounting to open revolt
against Ottoman rule, give renewed
cause for disquietude in the capitals. Of
Europe over the situation in the Bal
kans.
In Macedonia the promised reforms
do not appear to have lessened the ac-
tivity Of the Bulgaro- Macedonian rev.
olutionists. Indeed their activity ap-
pears to have increased. Their purpose
seems to be to compel the Turkish
troops to act, presumably with their
accustomed bestial barbarity, and so
call for Intervention by the powers
and a new treaty Of Berlin, to erect
Macedonia into an autonomous prov
ince, as Bulgaria was in 1887. Several
instances of Turkish ruthlessness oc-
Cured recently. In one case the Turk
ish regulars discovered a band Of 30
insurgents under two Bulgarian off,
GERS in a Macedonian village and, los
ing many Of their own men In the
fight which followed. took vengeance
by razing every house in the village
with artillery and massacreing the in
habitants without distinction. The
Macedonians are not content with
force of arms; they have blown up the
bridges Of two Turkish railways and
cut the telegraph wires wherever pos
sible. Thousands Of Macedonians have
now taken up arms against the sui
tan. This he could bear with compare
tive equanimity If it did not provoke
European intervention. But, unfortu-
nately for his personal safety, Albania
Is now also in a condition of insur-
rection.
This ancient Epirus, now known as
Albania, bounds Macedonia to the
west. It's population constitutes the
bravest Of the immediate subjects OF
Abdul Hamid, and hence the body
guard at his palace, the Yildiz kiosk,
in Constantinople, Is composed of AL
banian mountaineers who are apt to
sympathize with their brothers at
home. Like all mountain people, the
Albanians resent any sign Of control or
interference from the outside world
and will hardly continue so fanatically
loyal to the sultan If, forced by the
powers, he imposes reforms upon them
which will deprive them of their mill
itary tyranny in Macedonia. Hence
several thousand Of these lately de-
manded the surrender Of the foreign
gendarmes who had been enlisted at
town in northern Albania in accord
ance with the reform plans for the re-
establishment Of the Turkish gendar-
merry. Unable the make prolonged
resistance, the governor finally sur
rendered the foreigners, who were i'm
mediately maltreated and expelled.
After this the Albanians surrounded
the neighboring town Of MitroVitza,
demanding the removal Of the recent
ly appointed Russian consul. Meeting
with a refusal they attacked the town,
but were repulsed with heavy loss by
the 5000 Turkish troops garrisoned
there.
These incidents indicate that not
only in Macedonia, but also in Alba
mia, the continuance Of the sultan's
sovereignty will depend upon his abil-
ity sternly to put down revolt which
IL likely to be no easy task. If he Is
unable to do this, there will be SER
ious ground for the intervention OF
the powers. The Balkan war cloud Is
indeed threatening.