The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-25
QUIET REIGNS
IN BULGARIA
NO indications That a War Cloud
is lowering Near.
LITTLE FAITH IN The SULTAN
REFORMS CONSIST MAINLY or
PROMISES.

Sofia Bulgaria, Sept. 24.-Notwith-
standing reports to the contrary. per-
feet tranquility, almost Approaching
apathy. prevails throughout Bulgaria
There is not the slightest outward evil
oence that the country is on the verge
of war. Even in military circles there
/ is no excitement though unceasing
preparation is going on. The reports
emanating from Turkish quarters that
the government is in danger of being
carried away by popular excitement
and that Bulgaria is likely to take the
first hostile steps may be regarded as
ridiculous inventions. 1t is. however,
fact that all hope Of good results
from the Turkish promises OF reform
has long since disappeared, and the
feeling IS growing that war Is the sole
solution to the Macedonian problem.
the only question being whether it will
come this autumn or be postponed Un-
til spring.
The DreDa 8tions for the mobilizing
Of the Bulgarian army have been car
ried out with singular completeness as
TO detail. and a declaration Of war viii
find the Bulgarians sufficiently pre-
pared. The equipment for the soldiers
is ready, large quantities of ammuni-
ton are on hand. and the stocks of
general supplies are remarkably COM
prehensive. The appearance of the
troops shows attention to details and
their sOldierly qualities are revelation
to foreigners. The officers are fully
equipped for their profession, and the
men willingly undergo hard drill daily.
General Nicolaied will probably COM
mand in the event OF hostilities.
Massacre Stories.
The details of atrocities by the Turk
isl IN Ell n oh
ing the Bulgarian capital. and even eX-
coed those already published
The insurgent general staff in the
MOnastir vilayet has compiled an elab-
crate report of events in the district
OF Kastoria between Aug. and Sept.
y. 1t comprises a list of twenty-fOur
villages which were plUndered. A
great number of houses We're burned
and 572 villagers killed. The report
gives the names. ages and manner Of
death Of the victims. According to in
formation received from other compel
ent sources, the report is not eXagEeT-
ated and fairly represents the situa-
ton.
The diplomatic agents Of Russia and
Austria Hungary have informed the
Bulgarian government that they have
been Instructed to communicate that
their governments. in agreement with
never to depart from the published
programme Of reforms in Macedonia.
and that Bulgaria must not count on
any support for any other purpose.
The agents further announced that the
same declaration would be made at
Constantinoole.
Doubts at Sofia.
The imperial Ottoman commissioner
has informed the Bulgarian govern
ment that the sultan has promulgated
an trade sanctioning the programme
Of reform which is to be carried out
by a mixed commission. and that he
has deuuted Bilmi Pasha to suDerin-
tend the execution of the programme.
AS no indication is given concerning
the constitution of the proposed mixed
commission or as to the amnesty OF
political offenders demanded by Bull
garia. there is no disposition here to
believe that the negotiations win be
effective.
When the Turkish Diplomatic agent
this morning communicated the sui
tans trade to Premier PeUOff, the lat
ter is reported to have answered that
so long as Turkey does not withdraw
her troops from the frontier and does
not fulfill all her promises, Bulgaria
is justified in believing that Turkey Is
talking merely for talking sake. The
Sofia press refers TO the trade in sim
liar terms and declines to consider it
seriously.
According to unCOndrmed reports
the insurgents have captured the town
of Melnik. siXty-dve miles from Salon
ice. Severe lighting Is reported from
Nevrokop while kilograms from Hur-
gas describe the pitiable condition of
the thousands of refugees who have
arrived there.