The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-21
Memorandum Was Not Intended
 as an UIimatum,
WANT POWERS ID INTERVENE
Ministry Wants to Maintain Attitude of Neutrality Up to Last Mo- ment, But Position is Be-
 coming Difficult.

Sofia, Bulgaria, September 2O.-Some ap- prehension having apparently been ere- ated owing to a misunderstanding re- garding the precise meaning of Bulga- ria's last note to the powers, explana- tions have been given to some diplo- matic agents here, that the memorandum was not intended as an ultimatum, but was rather n the nature of an appeal for the intervention of the great powers before that intervention should be too late. The Bulgarian ministry. it was stated, was determined to maintain it's attitude of neutr ality up to the last mo- ment, but it feels the impossibility of standing by indefinitely, while the Turks exterminated 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 revo- lutionary committees, is consistently en- deavoring to force the governments s hand and provoke hostilities with Turkey.
 A special dispatch from the Monastery of Rila, Bulgaria, says the condition of the Turkish garrison of Melnk, sixty five miles northeast of Salonica, is be-. lieved to be extremely critical. It is be- sieged by bands of insurgents under the leadership of Yankoff, Stoyanoff, Darv- inghof and Sarafoff, all of whom were formerly Bulgarian officers.
 Insurgents Number 15oo.'
 The insurgents number 15OO, while the garrison is believed to consist of only one battalion. Menik is a very impor- tant strategic point in the mountains. commanding the road between Demir- nissan and Razlog. The Turks have withdrawn nearly all their forces from the districts of Danaoumaia and Razlog, to send them to the relief of Melnik. As consequence, unusual tranquility pre- vais throughout the district of Razlog, where the authorities, lacking the sup port of the troops, have ceased their policy of persecution and the boys are even furnishing bands with food. The Turkish population is described as being in state of great consternation.
 A company of Turkish soldiers and bashibazouks recently found the hiding place of a hundred families of refugees, from the villages of Dupeni and Echla, near Rezen. They captured the party. violated the women, and committed other atrocities.
 The united bands of Monassieff and Michailoff have had an encounter with the troops near Domir Kapu, sixty-two miles northwest of Salonlca. The Turks had many killed. including two officers.
 Sultan Would Avoid War.
 London. September 2O.-According to a dispatch from Constantinople to the Daily Telegraph, the sultan is so firmly resolved 10 avoid a war, that on the re- port that France was sending a fleet to Turkish waters, and again when 1t was stated that Bulgaria was mobilizing her troops, he drafted a decree forbidding massacres in Macedonia and conferred more extensive local adminlstr ative priv ileges than had been demanded by the insurgents themselves. but on each occa- sion finding the rumors unfounded, the decree was rescinded. It is believed, however that should any power threaten a demonstration in Turkish waters, the decree will be signed.
 The Sofia correspondent of the Daily Telegraph gives a similar report that the sultan is ready to concede local autono- my, but will not grant international con- trol or a Christian governor to Mace donia. Instead, he would propose a mix ed commission, composed of Turks. Mace donians, Bulgarians, Greeks and Walla- chians to administer the province The Servian newspapers are discussing the probability of a reconciliation with Bull garia on the basis of free trade between Servia and Bulgaria, and a defensive al- liance against the Turks.
 Greeks Are Joining Revolt.
 A dispatch from the Monastery of Rila says the Greeks are joining the revolt in the districts of Melnik and Demirissar.
 The Constantinople correspondent of the Times declares that he has good au- thority for asserting that several Serv- Ian bands have already crossed the from tier and are now fighting in Macedonia. If Bulgaria fights Turkey, the corre- spondent continues, 1t will be difficult for Servia to lag behind and 1t is quite clear that a Turko Bulgarian war would not be so one-sided as at first sight appears.
 pROIECT MAY RE DEAn