The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
BY Ex-ATTACHE.

Ing 29,ooo and 5o.000 men each. TWO O
these armies are Ottoman. and those ar
rayed against them are AIbanians
Thus far the latter have managed Il
hold their own and are furnishing
abundant evidence OF the fact thar the,
are JUST as capable Of defending theE
wei nigh impregnabIe mountain fast
nesses. and Of repulsing invaders. as e
the days OF their nationaI hero. Scan
derbeg. who actually succeeded in roat
ing Sultan Mahomet II, the c0nQueror o
ConstantnopIe, and n forcing MIN q,
acknowledge by treaty the independents,
OF Albania.
True, the Turks managed By diplomacy
rather than by strategy 10 reduce Al
bania 20 the nominal status OF a pr0vinct
OF the sublime porte. toward the clos,
OF the fifteenth century. But the sub
lection OF Albania 20 the Sultan has al
ways been more theoretical than real
II has enjoyed the most complete aut0n,
onny. and since irs population have always
absolutely declined 20 pay any taxes. fl
has been probably the one solitary por-
uon or the empire from watch no padlsh.
an has ever been able % extort any gold
Albanians were very extensively repre-
sented among the subaltern odlcers OF the
Third, OF So-called Macedonian Army
Corps. which brought about the Turkish
constitutional coup d'etat OF last fan
and were mainly responsible Tor its sue
cess Adul Hamld had forfeited their
loyalty and good VIII, by supersedlng his
famous bO6yguard Of Albanians with
Kurdish regiments. AID By MS failure %
make any attempt 10 settle the huge ar
rears OF pay OF both officers and men Of
the Third Army Corps.
Moreoyer. they ascribed 20 his gross
malaCmilistratiOn The resolve OF the FOR
e-gn powers 10 actively intervene in
Macedonia. a course which they were
convinced would threaten the autonomy
OF Albania That is why they revoIted
against him last year. They expected 20
bring about by means OF their ur01uu-
clamenJO. the payment OF their salaries.
The increased independence o. Albania,
and 70 avert any foreign action in the
european provinces OF The porte.
But they have been disappointed az
any rate iu the f-sr Two particulars.
----.a--E -.a A.-.--- el--- -t--l.4Lae
paid, while instead OF their Nationalist
rights and prerogauves being AUGMENTED
for the services which they rendered in
substituting a constitutional form OF gov
eminent for the most cruel form of
Oriental despousu. an attempt IS being
made 20 deprive them % all their time
honored immurities and privileges. and 20
reduce Albania 20 the same level as al
other provinces OF the empire
The doctrine which The new government
of Turkey is eudeavorirg 90 enforce. IS
that all the people subject 20 the Sultan IS
rlle should be regarded as being or the
same footing. thar military service. which
was formerly restricted 70 E0sIems.
should be extended 70 Christians aud
Jews. and that no one any longer should
enjoy exemption from taxation or from
any other Obligations. no matter whether
fiscal. military. or civic.
The Albanian participators IN the coup
3 etat OF last fan, naturally consider that
they have been E-t-ayed charge the
present government al Constauun0p-e
with the hases- sort OF i-grarirude and
have withdrawn % The mountains. among
their own people determined 70 fight 10
the last not only IN defense OF the home
rule which Albania has hitherto enjoyed.
but for additional autonomy and even
Sultan NIahomet Y and his ministers
are placed thereby in a very serious
Guandary- Owing 20 the nature OF the
country. with its absence Of roads. its
innUmerabie mountain passes. and 10 the
fact that not only every town and VII
lage. but even every monastery. church.
mosque. house. and cottage is fortified.
the suppression OF the Albanian insu-rec-
ton b. armed means would be a dincUIL
y not impossible task. az any rate 10
the Turkish army and would entail the
expenditure of Tar greater amount Of
money than The porte has al IT'S disposal
and the employment OF military resources
20 FAR greater degree than are avail
able.
Moreover there Is the certainty that
the Insurgents would receive secret as
sistence, in the shape OF arms. money.
and even men. from Italy. and from
Austria, each Of which nations have de-
signs upon Albania. and is anxious 10
secure hold on the good VIII Of the
and recognition as their pro-
-ector- Indeed. 10 is more than probable
that II the Turks. contrary 20 all ex-
pectaU0ns. were 10 win the upper hand
n their struggle with the Albanian in
sUrgentS. either Austria or Italy would
Intervene IN behalf OF the rebels, and call
upon the porte 10 stay its hand.
Popular sentiment IN Italy would exact
this Of its government. while Austria
would feel itself obliged TO interfere. in
1rder 10 prevent Italy from acquiring a
1repOlderant position in the former king
dom OF Scanderbes-
II. on tlo other hand. the Sultan. fol-
Owing the example OF SO many Of his
gives way 10 the AIban-
5ans, and consents TO a compromise.
which could only be in the nature OF an
almost complete surrender 10 tbs de-
nands Of the Insurgents. then almost
svery other one OF the diverse races and
provinces subject 20 the sublime porte.
win demand concessions Is extensive as
hose OF Albania. and viii rise in rebel
ion If their appeals are denied.
IL has already been suggested that the
,nly means Of putting an end % the con
'tant fighting which has been going on
.Or years IN Arabia. constituting a terri
Die drain en- the military and financial
'eSOurceS or the Turkish government. IS
10 grant complete autonomy 20 the Ye-
men, which would be equivalent 70 its
severance from the Ottoman Empire. and
he establishment Of independence.
Syria is clamoring for home rule The
Armenians are agitating for the restOra-
ion Of the former kingdom Of Armenia.
IS a self-gOverning province, under a
-iceroy Of Jheir own race, and the only
hing that prevents Macedonia from put
Ing forth similar claims is that iJs pop
Iiation consists Of q perfect salad OF
Inverse races-Servs. BuigaTs. Greeks.
Surds. all al Gaggers drawn with one
another. and perpetually fighting am0ne
themselves. their mutual rivalries being
ar more intense and acute than their
opposition 20 the rult OF the porte.