The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-29

st. Petersburg, Sept. 24.-The Rus
sian government has issued an official
note reiterating that the attitude of thel
powers in regard to the AuStrO-RussianI
reform scheme for Macedonia is un-I
changed and that, consequently, neitherI
Turkey nor Bulgaria car expect sup
port from any quarter, in the event of
open or secret resistance to that Scheme.l
The government, after pointing outi
that the suggested reforms were at thet
outset attended with good results, saysl
the Macedonia agitation spread in Bull
garia, or the mistaken conception that
Russia would ALTAR her programme andI
proclaim herself the champion of theI
unrealizable plans of the leaders of theI
revolution" The Turkish oppressionI
will end, the note says, only when theI
revolutionary activity Of the committees
cease. Until then reforms cannot bel
applied, nor the atrocities stopped.
In view of the thickening complica-I
tons. the Russian and Austrian gov-I
TO- lIISll VIEWS u
this effect, both at Sofia n at Conf
stantinople, and, acting on the suggest
ton Of Austria and Russia, all the gov-l
ernments of the powers which signed
treaty of Berlin, have instructed theirl
representatives to Turkey and Bulgaria.
to emphasize their FULL unimity in thel
Austro-Russian work of pacifying thel
Re- 1EnnC CO a G TO arooy n III 4
tons of possible assistance in the event.
of dangerous enterprises. These repre-I
sentatives have been instructed to makel
a declaration to the governments OIL
Turkey and Bulgaria as follows:
The present state of affairs in the
Turkish ~Vilayets, which is due to thel
criminal Intentions Of committees and
revolutionary bands, does not alter thel
attitude of the powers in regard to thel
programme of action advanced early int
the year by the two powers most inter-|
ested. Consequently, neither Turkey
nor Bulgaria can rely on the support
of any power, in he event of open orl
secret opposition to the realization of
this scheme.
The Imperial government hopes thisl
new warning will convince Turkey, asl
we'll as Bulgaria, of the futility of anyl
oSSS1hpl ~ dfOlu tlC VI liz
demands made upon them, and cause|
them to lake all the measures in their
power for the repression of the disturb
Dances in the Balkan peninsula. which,
can only have the most serious conse-l
quences for both the Ottoman Empire|
and Bulgaria."
SIX HUNDRED TURKS KILLED IN
A FIGHT.
Sofia, Bulgaria, September 24.-Ac-
cording to a telegram received here to-
day from Kostendil (43 miles from So
fia), six hundred Turks were killed in a
fight at Kotchani September 18th. The
Turkish force numbered 1000. After the
fight the troops, enraged at their losses
pillaged and burned a number of Bull
garian villages.
BATTLE OF KRESNA PASS STILL
IN PROGRESS.
| Constantinople, September 24.-The
battle of Kresna Pass, according to the
latest advices received here, is still in
progress. The insurgents are success
fully 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 and 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
situation.
SULTAN SANCTIONS PROGRAMME
OF REFORM.
Sofia. Bulgaria, Septel-be 24.-The
diplomatic agents of Russia and Aus
tria-Hungary have Informed the Bull
] Corio0 Onyornn0anr that thew have hppn
instructed to communicate that their
governments, in agreement with the
other great powers, are resolved never
to depart from the published pro-
gramme of reforms in Macedonia and
that Bulgaria must not u on any
support for any other rpo The
agents further announced that the same
declaration would be made at Constan-
tinople.
The Imperial Ottoman commissioner
has informed the Bulgarian government
that the sultan has promulgated an
trade, sanctioning the programme OF
reform which is to be carried out by a
mixed commission and hat he has de-
puted Hilmi Pasha to superintend the
execution of the programme with orders
to suspend the persecution Of the Bull
g%arians.
NO EXCITEMENT IN BULGARIA.
Sofia, Bulgaria, September 24.-Not-
withstanding reports to the contrary.
perfect tranquility, almost approach
ing apathy, prevails throughout Bulga-
ria. There is not the slightest outward
evidence that the country is on the
verge Of war. In the military circles
there is no excitement, though unceas-