The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-09-15
Is BULGARIA NOW TOACT?
II is reported That at a Council of
Ministers it Was Decided to Mob
ilize the First and Second
army Divisions, and
This Though De-
MID is Be-
lieVed.
IleVsd.
CBy the Associated Press.)

lDy J1c ASSoCldCCd I1SSo-J
Sofia. Bulgaria, Sept. 12.-With the ar
-...I Of new and sensationaLreports of the
,auIesome massacre of Christians in Mace
..a1l the situation here is hourly becom-
trr more Alarming. If the latest messages,
which state that sixty thousand Bulga-
ri.g- have been slaughtered in the dis
.r.l.s of Okrida and Leren, shall be con
Grfned. no doubt exists that the govern
meat viii be forced to order the mobili-
z.tlon Of the army Immediately.
According to information brought by a
courier to the revolutionary paper Auto
numve. q force of Albanians, assisted by
Turkish regular forces acting under orders
erect from the Yildiz Kiosk, massacred
the entire Bulgarian Christian population
OF the Okrida and Leren districts.
Fearful descriptions are given of the
sights seen there, the soldiers slaughter
ing men. women and children in every di-
rection. displaying a barbarism never be
fore witnessed.
The numbered killed IS not stated in
the ~courier's dispatches, but, according to
reports from other sources, the total num-
her of the victims will reach sixty thous-
and.
Official circles are so far without infor-
nation regarding the reported massacre,
but. in view of the character of the latest
adyices of Macedonia, it is feared the news
is only too true.
Rumors are current that at a council of
the minister today, it was decided to mobi-
lie immediately the first and second army
divisions.
This is Officially denied, but we'll inform
cd persons do not doubt that the cabinet,
which is meeting III council daily, is Sc
rlously considering such a measure.
A deputation of leading professors and
representatives Of the professional classes
yesterday waited upon the ministers and
urged the government to order immediate
mobilization. Premier Petroff replied to
the delegation hat the ministry was I'm
able to admit the necessity for such a step
at the present moment.
The Turkish government is believed to
have at the present moment no less than
$4,000 soldiers in the vilayet of AdrianOple,
large bodies of them within ten to fifteen
kilometres Of the Bulgarian frontier. Con
lronted with such a situation, it is argued
that Bulgaria would be amply justified III
modifying the first and second army di-
visions, the headquarters of which are at
Sofia, and Philippopolis, and which com
prise the forces nearest the Turkish from
tier.
The government appears to be firmly re
solved to avoid giving Turkey the slight
est pretext for declaring hostilities and is
DONG It's utmost to restrain the war lever.
me situation, however, is rapidly becom-
ing worse and popular excitement Is in
ereasjng. The Bulgarians are slngularly
undemonstrative and self-restrained, and
Are not accustomed to give vent to then
Ieehngs in popular demonstration and
noisy PROFESSIONS. Sofia and the country
generally are Outwardly as calm as in the
most peaceful times, but people who know
The BulgarIans say this calm IS more tC
he feared than any outward evidence that
they realize the fearful condition Of their
brethren in Macedonia.
A special dispatch received here iron
@ua, states that the insurgent chiefs en-
trusted with the leadership of the out
"reak in eastern Macedonia have met al
F-ra and completed their plans.
An engagement is reported to have oc
CURED between a force of insurgents ana
+ttEIsh trops at SuchindOl, in which not
" single revolutionary was killed, while
The Turks lost heavily.
Ieaeg,ams from Burgas says the Bulga
flH population IS fast disappearing from
1Ae districts Of Lovengrad, and that every
one unable to escape to the Bulgarian
frontier IS killed. Five hundred fugitives
nave arrived at Burgas, from Tekengea
1I'% state that in the surrounding WI
'sts The Turks search the houses TO-
#"h&. IaIhng to find which, they force th'
peasants 10 buy guns. These fugltlves re
p''t That two men, one aged 100 years ane
,~' 'iher 50, were impaled by the Turk
'' me course Of their search. The War OF
''e mere IS greatly concerned over the In
.1lzihg number Of deserters who go Il
JON the Insurgents.