The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-09
CONDITIONS GROW WORSE IN ALBANIA Few Americans Have Any Idea of Horrors NEED OF MORE FUNDS Misery and Want Are Said to Be Greaer Than That After Ris-
 ing in Macedonia
 in 1903
NEED OF MORE FUNDS

Berlin. July S.-(Special.) .)-FeW people in America have any idea of the true conditions in Albania and many l hear are apt to blame the Albanians TOT not accepting more generally the friendly hand recently extended to them by the sultan The truth is that the offer was only one of Turkeys usual despicaole tricks used whenever the porte hnds It. self in tight place. 8
 That is why the Albanians though out numbered 20 to 1 are still vowing that they will rather die than again entrus' themselves to the Turks.
 The whole of the original band of in surgents-men of the five large tribes Gruda, Hot. kastrat Klementi, and Skreli-have now been driven up right to the Montenegrin frontier Every woman and child of the Christians is at present taking refuge in Montenegro. They have poured over the border in thousands to escape the Turkish soldiers, and are now destitute upon the mountain sides.
 On the slopes of Korito are 800 families, averaging eight per family shelterless, foodless, destitute of everything, and ex- posed to the torrential rain which keeps falling at this time of the year. They are chopping up the leaves of the as- phodel, rank stuff that not even goats will eat, and slowing it. Several cases of starvation have already occurred.
 The misery and want is greater than that after the rising in Macedonia in 1905, for the Turkish army has now reached a very high pitch of efficiency. It is now armed with the latest rifles, artillery, and machine guns. Instead of developing their empire, the Turks are devastating it. The district was cruelty poor before. Now, for the sake of wiring ing taxes from a set of ignorant and poverty-striken peasants they have turn ed the land into a barren wilderness
 Every house is burnt; great columns of smoke are visible daily. No haystack no fruit tree, no garden or vineyard however small, is spared. The churches are plundered and flthily desecrated. A few unfortunate infrm and aged per- sons who were unable to fly have been burned in their houses. Tn one case, at Skreli an old woman of so years was casc into her burning house.
 As usual with the Turks, no aid has been given to the wounded. A wounded man was burned to death in a house at Kastrati A band of insurgents hearing his shrieks for help make a plucky dash to rescue him. But a machine gun was turned on them. To put 1t briefly .sthe conduct of Torgut Pasha and his army is that of Attila and his Huns, but Tor gut Pasha is equipped with all the modern means of destruction
 wonder how much longer Europe in- tends to give the Turks license to vivi- sect It is time that check should be put to reform that have for their ob- feet the destruction of whole people. For unless help be forthcoming the whole of the Christian tribes of North Albania will be destroyed.
 Even if peace be made, there are no houses for the people to return to. Nor is it likely they will consent to return The "constitution'' which they hailed with such joy three years ago has to them proved to be cruel engine of tyranny and injustice. For it is well krown that the people have been goaded to insurrecton by long series of unjust and barbarous acts. No single effort has been made by the government tt meet the people and learn their condi- tion and needs All proclamations have