The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-05
LOOK NOW FOR MASSACRES.
sJLTANs BLOWS EXPECTED 70
FALL on MACEDONIA.

LONDON. April TT has become In
oreasingly evident this week that . crisis
n the Balkans can no longer DO avoided
or postponed. Hopes were entertained
IN certain quarters for few days after the
euitan's acceptance OF the Austro- Russian
reforms that the smelioratins elect OF that
scheme might suffice 10 postpone hostil-
tiles for another twelve months. Later
developments have not only dissipsted these
hopes. but have demonstrated TO an I'M
preoedented degree those qualities OF CRAFTY
olsvernees whereby the Sultan more shan
once has amazed and COMPOUNDED Europe.
His prompt acceptance Of all the demands
made by the Powers aroused instant sus-
picion. and well 1t might
II will be remembered that when DO
agreed TO Introduce mild reforms IN Mace.
donia he said In effect: This 10 such good
thing I will apply 1t not only In Macedonia.
but In the other vilayets OF Albania ana
hounelia.'
He forthwith began the application
Of the reforms not where they were needed
for the protection Of the Christian section
of the population OF southern Macedonia,
but In Mussulman Albania. q fierce. lawless
country where such interference was certain
to provoke instant revolt. Cause and eject
were almost coincident; 80 close, In fact.
that II Ia difYicult to doubt they were both
carefully prearranged. The Sultan IN now
able 10 point out TO the Powers situation
which is the opposite Of what they ex-
pected.
II was well understood by Austria and
Russia that their scheme Of reforms was
utterly inadequate for the relief Of the
Christian population Of Macedonia from
the grave evils OF misgovernment, and 1t
was feared that a revolt could not be averted
on. account of this inadequacy. Now the
Sultan points to the serious uprising OF this
week, eliminating in the shooting OF the
Russian Consul. which was all due, he de-
clares, TO the spontaneous revolt OF his
faithful Abanians against the drastic
nature Of the reforms.
II 10 further announced that the Sultan
ID In mortal terror Of bis life on account
che resentment OF his Albanian bodyguard
over the slaughter OF 900 Of their country
men by Turkish troops.
=. 80 10 have once more the familiar pic
turs Of Abdul Hamid with his back TO the
wall lighting for his existence, while the
enumerated Powers who wish TO coerce
him look helpless.
The next step in the sultsn's programme
b quito clear. He 10 hurrying Thousands
Of Kurds and similar troops from Asia Minor
70 Salonica. He will use them TO subju-
nate and devastate Macedonia without
mercy. In other words the Christian
population Of the south will largely b
victims OF the Albanian revolt further
north.
II IL q mistake. by the way, to allow the
Albanian problem 10 be overshadowed
By the more familiar Macedonian ques-
ton. A writer who has just returned
from Albania says
Here we have q land unknown, shunned;
lis maps more inaccurate than those Of
central Africa: peopled by Q nation OF
fierce. reckless warriors. Q country unique
In Europe. for while even little Montenegro
has it, schools and law courts and news
papers, Albania knows none OF these things-
Even their language 10 entirely distinct
from any other European tongue; IN fact,
It's origin, as we'll a. that OF the Albanians
themselves, IL q mystery. Tho people
are spoken OF collectively as Albanians,
or sometimes a. Arnauts.
THE idea Of q united nation IL quite
erroneous. They are divided into three,
according to religions, Mohamme dams,
orthodox Greek and Roman Catholic Chris
tisns, three factions constituting three
different peoples, each animated with
fanatical hatred Of the others, and united
ouly In case OF common danger. The
anarchy that exists all over Albania can
only be family imagined.
1T In the writer's firm conviction that tho
Immediate future Of Europe Is centred In
Albania, and not for nothing do these BAR
baric but exceptionally intelligent clans-
men view strangers with Suspicion
III will thus appear that the Sultan
dilemma In dealing with his Albanian and
Macedonian subjects IL . very real one.
and certainly would not be simplined u
taken over by any Of the great Powers.
There Is practically no government. at all
IN Albania, where the Turks have no real
authority, while the unreconcilable nature
Of the various races and factions In Mace
donia makes autonomy there practically
impossible, even II the Sultan was willing
TO ooncede IT, His next policy Of subtu-
cation will be speedily applied, and as II 10
Known that there will be extensive resist
snoe a long series Of terrible massaores
seems assured.
The chief point now debated In Europe
IN Al what point will Russia and Austria
intervenef It Ia even represented that
Russian patience IN weakening under tho
influence Of the outrage on her Consul 1t
Mitrovitsa. It s hardly probable that
Russia will eeek to execute her ultimate
programme 40 early In the game.
~ European public opinion finds It dificuk
h,st at this moment 70 harmonise the Csar's
Ia. i.nrna~> nth his Uift NJ ,y,illions