New-York tribune., 1903-02-28
THE BALKAN TROUBLES. |
GRAVE FEARS OF VAR.
4iban3anS FIomsRt DiSorder-.St,7ct
CenSOrShp.

special 70 The New-York Tribune by French Cable)
Copyright; 1908: BY The Tribune Association)
Vienna, Feb. 27.-The opinion in official circles
here is that a conflict between Russia, Austria
or the Balkan States the one hand and
Turkey on the other viii not come off this year.
The result depends, however. entirely on the ex-
tent 10 which disturbances are carried In place
Of the insurgent Macedonian bands, the officials
here think the Albanians will take aggressive
action and fill the centre of the stage, and, ac-
Cordfng 10 reports received here. after the warm
spell Of the last few days they have already be-
gun 70 be troublesome. These stories, like all
dangerous news, are denied by the Turkish Gov
ernment. and the censorship prevents their con-
fruation It is most difficult 10 get authentic
news from the disturbed district. the Al
banians are suspicious Of ali foreigners. and a
correspondent takes his life in his hands when
he goes among them They are the worst Of the
Sultans subjects. and are subjects only NOM
finally. They carry guns and swords as Ameri-
cans swing canes and umbrellas, and pistols
and knives like handkerchiefs They live in
clans each with a chieftain, and. while always
1varring among themselves. solidly unite against
outsiders
These troublesome Albanfans have prevented
the desired connection OF railway from Hun
gary across their country. with a terminus at
Mitrovi1za on the road leading up from Salon
ica a large Austro- Hungarian force is main
tained this side OF the frontier, and recently
q Russian consulate was established in Nitro
vita The Alhanians protested against it. but
Russia insisted, and the Sultan acceded to the
demand. and supplied adequate force to pro-
1ect the consulate Vague runloTs have been re-
ceived that the Albanians storned the con-
sulate. An outrage of this sort would precipi-
tate hostilities on large scale, and would be a
plausible excuse for the intervention of Austria
and Russia The eSraCred raids AlhaniSnS
on Nacedonians and other neighboring races, if
repeated and sufficiently atrocious in results,
might cause an Austrian army to push down
into the coveted territory.
The Sutan's acceptance of the reform meas
ures OF The powers IS not agreeable 10 the AL
banians, and private letters from the disaf-
fected district lead the Austrian officials here to
expect d serious disturbance within fortnight
if the promised reforms are put into force. The
Turkish troops may be powerless to keep the
Albanians in order. Their sympathies. at any
event, are with the Albsnians against the Mace
domains.
An expert on the Balkan question who is
about 10 make journey along the frontier be-
tween Bulgaria and Macedonia in the interest
OF the Austrian War Office compares the situa-
tion with that in Cuba before the Spanish war.
The atrocities have been worse than those in
Cuba. and, apart from the cause of humanity,
the advanced condition Of Austrla-Hungary de-
mands a Mediterranean outlet The news from
Turkey is suppressed. and the wrongs of the
subject races are not proclaimed in the press, as
Cuba's grievances were. This precludes the for
nation Of 2 strong public opinion, and the pow
ers are conservative from fear of the results.
Anothsr Official with whom have talked says
that the conditions closely resemble the situa-
tion IN the Balkans prior to the last Russo
Turkish War. AS then, there may be a calm be-
fore the storm. There is one marked difference
there will he no English interference.