The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-10-01
SUFFER HEAVY
Loss IN BATTLE
Six Hundred Turkish Troops Killed
in Recent Conflict at
Kotchani.
BULGARIAN VILLAGES PlLLACED
Y and BURNED IN REVENGE
Battle of Kresna Pass Still in Prog
ress-InsurSents Are successfully
Holding Strong Position-Russin
Issues Note R~elterating Attitude Of
Powers Regarding Reform Scheme.

Powers Regarding Reform Scheme.
Sofia, Sept. 25.-According to a tele-
gram received Thursday from Kosten-
dill (43 miles from Sofia, 600 Turks were
killed in a fight at Kotchani, September
IS. The Turkish force number 1000.
After the fight the troops, enraged at
their losses, pillaged and burned a num-
Der of Bulgarian villages.
Battle Still in Progress.
Constantinople, Sept. 25.-The battle
of Kresna Pass, according to the latest
advices received here, is still in progress.
The insurgents are successfully holding
strong positions and their casualties are
slight, only a score being killed or
wounded, while the Turks, up to the
present, have lost five officers and 800
men killed or wounded.
Part of the British Mediterranean
squadron has arrived at Suda Bay, Is
land of Crete, and is held in readiness in
case Of developments in the Balkan sit
uation.
Official Note of Russia.
st. Petersburg, Sept. 25.-The Russian
government has issuedan official note re-
iterating that the attitude of the powers
In regard to the Austro-Russian reform
scheme for Macedonia is unchanged
and that consequently neither Turkey
@ Bulgaria can expect support from
any quarter in the event of open or Sc
cret resistance to that scheme.
The government, after pointing out
that the suggested reforms were at the
outset attended with good results, con-
tinues:
Real Object of Committees.
These, however, did not satisfy the
Macedonian committees which have
sprung up in the slav states. The prob
ability which has become apparent that
the Christian population would calm
down under the influence of reforms de-
prived these committees of all favora-
BILE ground for the realization of their
revolutionary plans. While proclaim
ing that their object was the protection
of their c~oreligionists against Turkish
oppression, these committees in reality
seek to attain their selfish aim of modi-
flying the administrative system in the
province so IS to convert it into a Bull
garian. Macedonia, to the detriment of
the rights and privileges of the other
Christian peoples, whose interest is
equally dear to orthodox Russia. AS the
leaders found no support among the
non-Bulgarian element in Macedonia
they exerted themselves to raise a gen.
: eral instruction by cruel outrages and
terrorism in order to hinder the intro
duction of the projected reforms. I'm
happily, in spite of the precautions of
the Sofia government, the Macedonian
agitation spread considerably in Bull
garia itself, finding support among those
who mistakenly reckoned that the out
break thus caused would compel Russia
to alter her programme and proclaim
herself the champion of the u~nrealiza-
BILE plans of the leaders of the revolu-
ton.
This fatal conception against which
Russia gave incessant warnings has
brought upon the Christians in the Turk
ish vilayets grievous oppression which
will end only when the incursion of in
surgents from Bulgaria and the revolu-
tionary activity of the committees cease.
Not until then can the immediate appli-
cation of reforms needed by the popula-
ton and by which they will be protected
from Turkish atrocities, be insisted
upon, the most energetic measures hav-
ing failed to bride the fanaticism of the
Mussulmans. -s
Declaration to Bulgaria.
Sin view of the thickening complica-
lions the Russian and Austrian govern
ments have reiterated their views to this
effect both at Sofia and at Constantine
pie, and acting on the suggestion of Aus
tria and Russia, all the governments of
the powers which signed the treaty of
Berlin have instructed their representa-
tives to Turkey and Bulgaria to empha-
size their full unanimity in the Austro-
Russian work of pacifying the Balkans
SO as to remove all misconceptions of
possible assistance in the event of dan
gerous enterprises. These representa-
tives have been Instructed to make a
declaration to the governments of Tur-
key and Bulgaria as follows:
""The present state of affairs in the
Turkish vilayets, which is due to the
criminal intentions of committees and
revolutionary bands, does not alter the
attitude of the powers in regard to the
programme of action advanced early in
the year by the two powers most inter-
ested. Consequently, neither Turkey
nor Bulgaria can rely on the support of
any power in event of open or secret op-
position to the realization of this
scheme.
1.-THE imperial government hopes this
new warning will convince Turkey, as
well as Bulgaria, OF the futility of any
attempt to avoid the fulfillment of the
demands made upon them, and cause
them to take all the measures in their
power for the repression of the disturb
ances in the Balkan peninsula, which can
only have the most serious consequences
for both the Ottoman empire and Bull
garia.'"
Nominated for Mayor.
San Francisco, Sept. 25.-The repub-
lican municipal convention Wednesday
night nominated H. ]. Croker for
mayor.