Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-09-11
WAR DOGS TUG
At THEIR Chains
Turkey and Bulgaria Proceeding with
Preparations for Open
HOStiIities
war LIKELY BEFORE END OF sept.
1t Is Not Thought That There Will Be
Any Formal Declaration Of
War, In View of Bulgaria's
Vassal Status, But That Some
Frontier Incident Will Precip-
itate Hostilities.
itate Hostilities.

War between Turkey and Bulgaria
Is now regarded at Constantinople as
inevitable. 1t is even believed that the
outbreak of hostilities will occur before
the end of September, when the re-
enforcement from Asia will have been
concentrated in Macedonia and in tbe
yllayet OF Adrianople. 1t is not thought
that there will be any formal declara-
ton OF war, in view of Bulgaria's vas
sal status, but that some frontier in
cident will precipitate hostilities.
The Bulgarians and Macedonians re-
siding in Constantinople are in terror
OF massacre. A large number of them
We're arrested few days ago. as a
preventative measure" The fear of a
massacre is probably exaggerated, al
though, in view of the present excited
state of mussulman feeling. an insig.
nificant incident might perhaps lead tc
a massacre.
The terrible accounts received re-
garding the conduct of the Turkish
troops have not surprised European cir.
cies, but many who have hitherto been
optimistic in their views now accept
the prevailing belief that Turkey is
on the eve of catastrophe.
The last orders received from tba
Turkish government are regarded at
Salonica as sure indication that the
porte entertains serious apprehensions
OF war Sixteen battalions of mustah-
fuz, or second reserves. have. been
called to arms in the Salonica Uskuh
and Monastir districts, and the artil-
lery and cavalry reserves of the Adri
anople and Smyrna divisions have also
been modified.
The commander of the Third army
corps has been ordered to strictly
watch the Servian frontier where it is
thought revolutionary bandsswill prob
ably cross.
The Balkin situation shows no signs
OF improvement. Indeed, in Constanti-
nople, it is now thought that war be-
tween Turkey and Bulgaria is ine-
vitable, but the Turkish ambassador
in London insists that hostilities can
only result from an overt act on the
part of Bulgaria. The Sofia govern
ment, on the other hand, preserves
strict neutrality, as advised by Russia
and Austria.
Roumania, too, is enforcing neu-
trality, in compliance with the advice
of Russia, having taken measures to
suppress the Macedonian agitators
within her borders.
The popes refusal to appeal to the
powers to act, save in the direction of
stopping the massacres in the Balkans,
is accepted as evidence that even the
holy see appreciates the inadvisability
of intervention at this time.
Turkey is largely increasing the
number of her troops in Macedonia, in
spite of her depleted treasury, and is
determined to suppress the revolution
before the powers can intervene
In the vilayet of Monastir the ris-
ing has been ruthlessly suppressed, the
Turks having burned many villages
and committed grave excuses.
The revolutionary headquarters have
received information that the Turks
have burned, or otherwise destroyed
nearly all the villages in the district Of
Kastoria, near the Greek frontier. The
villages in that district were the largest
in Macedonia, each having from 1000
to 5000 inhabitants. Altogether about
twenty-five villages in that part OF
Macedonia have been destroyed. 1t is
added that three hundred women and
children, fugatives from Zagoritchanl
went to the Turkish commander to seek
assistance and seek protection from the
bashi-bazouks. The commander prom
ised them protection, but when the
fugatives left the bashi- bazouks pur-
sued, outraged and killed many or the
women and children,