Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-23
UNREST IN ALBANIA
Battles With Dissatisfied Sub.
jects of Turkey Frequent.
FlANY REASONS FOR WAR
S;hool Question, Taxation and Au.
tonomy to Front.
SYMPATHY OF NEIGHBORS
Bulgaria, Bosnia and Macedonia
Anxious to Jump Into Trouble
and Fight Moslems.
SYMPATHY OF NEIGHBORS

| BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
| Chicago Record Herald.
| CONSTANTINOPLE, May q, 1910
| The news from Albania is unsatisfac-
tory. Today's reports always contradict
those of yesterday.
The government has notified the en-
bassies and has given official statements
| to the newspapers on at least three occa-
sions that the Albania insurgents have
| laid down their arms, have submitted to
| the terms offered them by the govern
| ment, and that everything is quiet and
| satisfactory.
A day or two later, from the same
| source. have come accounts of terrible
| fighting, Of battles in which eight, ten
and twelve thousand insurgents have
| been overcome and routed by the Turkish
troops. who fought like tigers and won
| almost bloodless victories, owing to their
superior tactics and powerful artillery.
A few days later there will be a dis
cussion in parliament, provoked by AL
bantam deputies. The ministry will offer
to send a commission to Albania to as
certain what the people demand and to
treat for peace, provided the Albanian
deputies will give assurances that their
constituents will abide by the decision
and submit to the authorities who will be
sent out from Constantinople to govern
them.
But the Albanian deputies are not au-
thorized to give any such assurances.
They know that the causes OF the 1nsur-
rection are too deep-seated and far-reach-
ing and involve too many important
principles to be composed in that way.
r.
There is no doubt of the bloody bat
ties. There is no doubt OF the terrible
slaughter among the insurgents, mostly
hill men with old-fashioned rifles. who
can harass but cannot drive back the
we'll disciplined and well armed Turkish
troops, with their rapid-firing artillery.
1t is entirely probable that a guerrilla
warfare will continue until the govern
ment submits to the Albanians. The AL
banians will never submit to the govern
ment on the questions in dispute.
The great danger is that the Macedo-
mans may take advantage Of the situa-
ton to start a revolution in that prov
ince, which may involve Bulgaria and
Greece and ultimately Russia and Aus
tria. The almost universal opinion among
diplomatists in the east is that war will
be provoked in the Balkan peninsula be-
fore the end of next year.
The germ of the impending struggle
lies in the discomfort of the Albanians
because of the attempted suppression of
their national individuality and in the
ever-present Macedonian committee,
which has public headquarters at Sofia,
the capital Of Bulgaria, and is collecting
money openly to buy arms and ammun1-
ton to resist Turkish authority.
The committee is not so active as 1t
was a few years ago. Recognition of the
independence of Bulgaria, which until
recently was a protectorate of Turkey.
thing else to think about for the time
being. But there Is likely to be a col
lisicn at any time which may provoke
a war. Wars almost inevitably are pro-
voked by tribes
Old Woman Caused War.
For example, the latest trouble between
Turkey and Bulgaria was due to the lam
entations of an old peasant woman, who
lives on the border, and took two chick
ems to the village market on the Turkish
side. The Turkish collector Of customs
taxed these chickens one plaster each,
and the old woman refused to pay the
money.
After disputing the question as long
as anybody would listen. she crossed the
border into Bulgaria and told everybody
she met on the road and the occupants
of every house along the way how she
had been treated. She warned them that
unless they did something to defend their
dignity and assert their rights against
Turkish tyranny they might as we'll give
up living altogether.
AS consequence. the peasant farmers
in the neighborhOOd crossed the Turkish
border with all kinds of garden truck
and farm produce and offered it for sale
without paying the usual customs dues
The Turkish officials attempted to arrest
them: they resisted, and before long a
battle was on.
But the trouble in Albania is deeper
Its roots are away down in the depths of
national pride and patriotism. While the
present Instruction may be suppressed
previous instructions have BEEN
others will arise periodically until the
cause is removed, and it is a peculiar
cause.
Backwardness of Albania.
Albania is the most backward section
Of Europe II you will look at map
of Turkey in your geography you will
find that it Is a province of the Ottoman