Ottumwa semi-weekly courier., 1903-09-03
TURKS MAKE FIVE ARRESTS.
Action BY Beirut Authorities in Con-
nection With the Magelssen Affair.

ConStantinople, Sept. 1.-The porte
has notified Leishman that five ar
rests have been made at Beirut in
connection with the shooting, which
led to the report that Magelssen, the
United States vice consul there, had
been assassinated. Turkish officials
continue to insist that no attempt
was made on the vice consul's life.
and reassert that the whole story
originated in Ecu de Joie," fired on
the occasion of native marriage and
in accordance to the customs. Leish-
man, however, refuses to accept such
an explanation without conclusive
proof and the judicial investigation
continues.
Three Hundred Reported Killed.
Constantinople, Sept 1.-Official re-
ports say that 800 insurgents We're
killed or wounded during the fighting
which occurred last week in the villa
yet of Monastir.
Sends Memorandum.
The porte has sent memorandum
to the Austrian and Russian ambassa-
dors here pointing out that at re-
cent mass meeting of the Macedonians
in Sofia it was decided to send fresh
bands into Macedonia, and also call
ing attention to the fact that commit
tees were in Bulgaria supplying the
insurgents with arms and ammunition
by means of ships, which land their
cargoes on the coast in the vicinity of
Iniada.
War Tax Levied.
The government has imposed a per-
sonal or land tax on the entire popu-
lation of the empire over the age of
Is years. The tax is on different
classes and ranges from eighty cents
to $500 each annually. This is regard
ed in some quarters as being i'll the ma
ture of provision for war.
U. S. Cruisers at Messina.
Messina, Sicily, Sept. 1.-The United
States cruisers Brooklyn and San
Francisco passed through the Straits
of Messina today bound south to
Semaphore. They were saluted by
the warships, wishing them sood luck.
Burn and PiIlage.
Consular dispatches from Prishtina
near the Servian frontier confirm the
reports that nearly all the Christian
villages in the districts of Didra, fifty.
lOul tlllGS MOHdSlll duu SlCSNO
were pillaged and burned and that the
inhabitants have fed. 1t is not stated
whether the Albanians or Burgarians
were the perpetrators of the outrages.
In spite of the apparent gravity of the
general situation, optimism prevails in
Turkish official circles.
Turks Optimistic.
In the course of an audience, which
the German and Russian ambassadors
had with the sultan for the purpose OF
recommending more energetic action
and entrusting to the Turkish com
manders-in-chief full directions of the
military operations, the s,lltan replied
that he preferred to retain control al
Constantinople.
Turks Destroy Village.
Sofia, Sept, IA strong force of
Turkish infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery recently attacked the village of
Stoilovo, northward from Malkoter-
novo, and occupied by the Insurgents.
The latter retired and the Turks en-
tered the place, massacred the entire
population and destroyed the village.
Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria has
arrived at Euxinograde, Bulgaria.
where he has been joined by Premier
Petroff. The prince expected to re-
main there some time.
insurrection Proclaimed.
Sofia, Sept. Il, A local newspaper
announced this afternoon that a gener