Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04


1t is not necessary to go back to the time
OF Alexander the Great to find records or
Macedonian valor The men in Macedonia
today, who this spring are. again fighting
with their old-time tenacity against the
Turk have all the old fighting spirit Of
their conquering ancestors.
II they cannot accomplish so much, II
is only because there are fewer Of them,
and, also, because personal courage does
not count in battle as 1t did in those days.
But there are feats of bravery still done in
Macedonia that would have brought flush
OF pride to the cheeks of Alexander and
his royal father, Phillip, twenty-five hun
dred years ago.
The insurgents have found 1t most effec-
tive to scatter through the country in bands
o. twenty to thirty, striking the Turkish
garrisons when least expected. When they
need to recuperate, they return to their
native villages or towns as peaceful clti-
zens. staying there until they are ready for
another campaign.
representative of Macedonia In new
York, who is occupied in raising funds for
the refugees relief committee, has just re-
ceived letter from his father in Mace
donia, in which the following story is incl
dentally told:
In certain small town in the district Of
Razlog there is a garrison of company OF
Turkish troops. One morning this company
was suddenly called out to go in pursuit OF
a small insurgent band that had been seen
just outside the town. The writer OF the
letter gives an account of the fight which
followed as he heard 1t from the Turkish
uzebashi (captain) who led the garrison
out.
Faced Hot Fire.
1--WE found the rogues up the road to the
mountains" said the uzebashi, land, OF
course we opened fire on them. There were
about twenty of Them and they immediate
ly took shelter behind the rocks on the
hilltop. I deployed my men to either side In
a semi-circle remaining in the middle my
self with the bugler. My men fired as they
advanced. and none of the insurgents show
ed his head above the rocks. They held
their rifles up and fired without sighting,
exposing only their hands.
Suddenly, young man sprang into full
view up on the rocks. In spite of the fact
that the entire company was concentrating
its fire on him. he took off his fur cap with
a mock bow, replaced 1t, knelt down, raised
his rifle leisurely, and fired.
Il turned to give the order charge to the
bugler. The insurgents bullet had gone
through his head, shattering the bugle,
Just as he was about to blow.
Another insurgent now stepped up be-
side the first a hunchback, and he fired.
A sergeant beside me fell. They each fired
twice again, and man fell each time.
Then the two daredevils rose. bowed jump
ed back, and the whole band escaped"
And what do you think?" adds the writ
err after the uzebashi left me l went
home and found that rogue of grandson
Of mine there-your nephew, Tasse--and he
1t was who shot the bugler-
Old and Young.
New York Macedonians tell another story
about this same Tasse. The people of Raj
log call it the STORY of young Tasse and
old Tasse.''
1t became known to the people that an
old man, a Bulgarian. was Turkish spy,
and the local insurgent committee endeav-
ored to have him put out of the way. But
no one dared to undertake the task. for
the spy was always guarded by Turkish
soldier and seldom left the town. Finally,
young Tasse volunteered his services.
For many days Tasse watched the old
Bulgarian's house, whose name also was
Tasse. One day the young insurgent saw
him emerge heavily armed. with box in
his hand which the younger man knew con-
tanned military reports. Military headquar-
tiers were a mile out of town. Young Tasse
watched the spy and his body-guard set
out then he got his Mauser. which he hid
in a neighboring yard, and set Off on
parallel course to that taken by old Tasse
In the smaller Macedonian towns the back
each other. By going through rows Of
these back yards young Tasse was not
seen Finally, the highway was reached;
here he found shelter behind a hedge. al
ways keeping close to old Tasse and his
armed body guard.
When they were we'll out of town young
Tasse rose and fired: Old Tasse fell dead.
The Turkish guard swung round and fired
at young Tasse. then jumped into ditch
for shelter. Young Tasse, unframed,
dropped behind his hedge again and fired
The two, about 200 yards apart, kept firing
at each other until dark. Then Tasse crept
back into town and hid his gun.
The first man he met on the street was
the Turkish soldier with whom he had been
duelng for the past hour.
What do you think?' shouted the ex-
cited Turk. Somebody has killed your
namesake old Tasse!
us that SOP? exclaimed young Tasse.
"And l thought SO much of him."
Against Heavy Odds.
From the town of Palanka. in the prov
ince of Scopia, comes the story of daring
fight against heavy odds in which Madam
Arnaudova, Macedonia's Joan dare, figures
prominently.
A band of twenty insurgents crept down
on Turkish garrison just at dawn, their
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