New-York tribune., 1903-04-27
ON MACEDONIAN BORDER.
BALK4N EXPERIENCES.
Am american Correspondent among
Brigands.
Sofia, Bulgaria, April IL

There is a fascination about any frontier
country but at this moment the most interesting
of borders is that between Turkey and Bull
garia. The Turkish soldier along the line is a
type of the Sultan and the Ottoman Empire
and so also is the Bulgarian of his prince ana
people. No men hate each other more bitterly
than these two, yet you would think from the
manner of the willy Turk that there is no one
whom he loves more devOtedly than the Bull
garian facing him, while you see at glance that
the other is having desperate battle with him
self to keep the peace. The Turk is old in the
knowledge and practice of hypocrisy and de-
ception, while the Bulgarian is a child, without
a trick or an art-a fault that has proved fatal
for the nation in its diplomacy with its doubtful
friend, Russia. The Bulgarian reveals no lack
of shrewdness in guerilla warfare-brigandage
as the Turks call it.
Brigand is a name bestowed by the Turks
upon all men who take up arms against then
and although, like the words democracy and
republicanism in America, 1t is very often
false label it carries weight. The name caused
me to arm to the teeth when I ventured among
the mountaineers, but soon learned that my
weapons were needless-at least, on the Bull
gariar side of the border. Not one member OF
a revolutionary band would compromise the
country which he loves, and of which he hopes
Macedonia will soon be a part, by hurting
hair of an Americans head. Miss Stone was
captured by Bulgarian revolutionists, as they
now frankly acknowledge, but she was neither
taken nor held at any time other soil than
Macedonia. It was supposed that the United
States would, like any other great country, ex-
act from Turkey the ransom paid. The money
was used for procuring arms, and it was ex-
pected that the Sultan would have to settle the
bill for the weapons to be employed against
him The revoutionists found Miss Stone and
Mrs Tska more trouble than they were
worth" and kidnapping has been dropped from
their programme. The assassination of citizens
of other countries however, is plan which they
have adopted, in order to prove that the Sultan
cannot rule, and they say that they will con-
tinue to terrorize the country until Europe takes
charge of it.
am calling the Christian Nacedonians,z who
speak the same language, Bulgarians. for that
is what they call themselves. Turks and AL
banians born in the province are Macedonians.
There is no difference between the Bulgarians
on either side of the border, except that one is
as free as the American villager and as happy.
otherwise than in his sympathy for his suffering
brother whereas the other is cowed and in alb
ject despair. It is not strange that Bulgaria has
opened her gates to the Christian Macedonlans'
and aided and abetted them. In comparison
with their sufferings the Cubans lived IN peace
and made much ado about nothing Every
member Of a band whom have met has made
excuses for tactics which have been compulsory.
Civilized Europe will do nothing for them be-
cause each country jealous lest some rival
NAV get the prize They want to provoke a
massacre or at least, many Of them do They
say that their own determination or the ex-
pulsion of the Turks most come. for there is no
other alternative They are right about re-
forms in Turkey. One only needs to take a
step across the frontier in order to be convinced
that there can never be any reforms. The Turk
is hopeless.
Liberty or DEATH is the legend worked in
the caps under which the Bulgarians are fight
ing. Their ground or justification for methods
for which they have been condemned as bar
barous Christians is the thought that the end
will Justify the means Under Bulgarian rule
there is hope for portion of the southeastern
corner of Europe. In the Sobranje, or Par-
lament. at Sofia sit eight Turks, with their
fezzes never removed, the representatives Of dis
tricts in which their race is more numerous
than Bulgarians Under Turkish rule there is
a permanent menace of reign of horror
1t is becoming more and more lntolerable TO
the Bulgarians, especially the troops and gen
darmes along the border. to be compelled 10
hammer and discourage their brothers in their
struggle for liberty and to do this at the dfcta-
tion of a country which once kidnapped tEeT
ruler and is suspected of plotting against the
welfare of the prncipality itself. Several con-
sgnnlents of ammunition. labelled OK yokes,
Hardware etc, have been conhscated, and two
members of bands have been shot but the Bull
garicn troops the frontier watch Tor oands
and arms as the Irish woman says her hus-
hand hunts for work. praying that he won't
find it."
The Bulgarian line along the border averages
two or three men to kilometre. except on the
highroads where dutiable products cross the
frontier The Turkish troops are within shout-
ing distance of one another. except on the snow
clad mountain tops where their scanty railnent
and half fed condition will not allow them TO
maintain the Gordon Instead OF keeping
patrol. like the Bulgarians, they take up post
Continued third page.