Gilpin observer., 1903-08-20
ARRAIGNs THE TURK
BULGARIA SUBMITS MEMoRAN-
DUN TO THE POWERS.
Tells CT Causes Leading Up to Freocrt
Balkan cseIlion-Eulgarian .nhab-
itants Arc Everywhere Plrndered
and Prosecuted.

and Prosecuted.
Sofia, Bulgaria Aus. l7.-Thc Bal
garian government has presented q
memorandum to the powers setting out
at great length the condition OF affairs
during the past three months in Mace
donia since the Turkish government
undertook to make the promised re.
forms. The most precise details, dates,
places and names of persons are given
in the memorandum, the whole consti-
tuting a terrible category of murder,
incendiarism, pillage and general op-
preston committed by the Ottoman
soldiers and officials.
These particulars were obtained en-
tirely from official sources. such as the
reports of the Bulgarian consuls and
agents of the Bulgarian government,
and, in many instances, the reports
made by Turkish authorities. The
Bulgarian government guarantees the
absolute truth of every statement and
challenges the porte to disprove 4
single charge made in the memoran-
dunn The memorandum begins by stat
ing that during the past three months
the Ottoman government has taken q
series of measures with the alleged
intention of inaugurating the era of
promised reform and of assuring peace
and tranquility to the Bulgarian popu-
lation OF European Turkey, but which
have had the contrary effect of exas-
perating the population and reviving
tie revolutionary movement. Instead
of proceeding solely against persons
for breaches OF the public order the
military and civil authorities have
sought every possible pretext to perse-
cute, terrorize and ruin the Bulgarian
inhabitants alike in the large cities
and IN the small villages. Wholesale
massacres, individual murders, the de-
struction of villages, the arrests, i'll
treatment. tortures arbitrary impris-
onment and banshment,. the closing
and disorganizing of churches and
schools. the running of merchants. the
collection of taxes for many years in
advance-such. proceeds the memor-
.andum are among the Ottoman admin
fstration's acts in the vilayets of Sa-
lonica. Monastir. Uskub and Adrianople.
Altogether the memorandum gives
particulars of no less than l31 individ-
uai and general cases of excesses and
outrages committed by the Turkish
authorities. In summing the details
OF outrages mentioned, the memor-
andum declares that wholesale massa-
cres were perpetrated by regulars and
Bashi-Bazouks in the town of Salon
lea and the villages of Baldevo. Ba-
nitza, Echourilivo. KarbinZa, Moghil.
Cy,a a U-,.ft a..
of carnage, pillage and incendiarism
were everywhere terrible At
Smerdisch. over 200 Bulgarians were
shot. killed with swords or burned to
death. Over 250 houses and the
churches and schools were set on fire
with petroleum and pillaged, the prop
erty being sold by the soldiers and
Bashi-Bazouks in neighboring places.
Similar scenes occurred at the viii
lagos of Gorna-Ribnita, Igoumenetc,
Dobrilaki and Uikodot
The memorandum concludes as fol-
lows: Tired of waiting the fulfill
ment of promises of better conditions
and driven to despair the Bulgarian
population have thrown themselves in
to revolution. which is now spread
ing in an Ottoman province $50 miles
from the Bulgarian frontier. The
causes OF this revolution are today
known. The responsibility is fixed
and the porte can no longer accuse
the Bulgarian principally"
The memorandum has made a strong
impression in diplomatic circles. The
Austrian diplomatic agent has already
called on the premier to express his
anxiety regarding the results that may
ensue from its publication. The
French and Italian agents also ex-
pressed uneasiness. although they took
q less gloomy view.