Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-05
Decides to Abandon City.

CETINJE.. Montenegro. May 5.-king
Nicholas of Montenegro decided toda.
to evacuate the fortress of Scutari
in response to the demand of the Eu-
ropean powers.
When he took possession Of Scutari on
April -, after a six-month siege which
cost the lives Of thousands OF Monte
negrins and Turks. King Nicholas de-.
clared that he would hold the city until
the last drop of Montenegrin blood had
been spilled. As the European powers had
decided previously that Scutari was 10
form part Of the future autonomous state
Of Albania. a crisis was brought about
and the powers Immediately brought
strong pressure to bear to force Nicholas
and his troops to eNacuate the place.
In the meanwhile Austria took ener-
getc steps to enforce the powers de-
cision and concentrated large bodies OF
troops in Bosnia. Herzegovina and Dali
malta The powers in the interim IN
stituted a blockade of the Montenegrin
coast
seemed not 10 affect the determination
Of the king. Some OF the Montenegrin
troops were withdrawn from Scutari. in
order. il was said, to resist possible
Austrian advance. Then word came that
Austria and Italy had entered into an
agreement TO solve the Albanian prob
lem by a military expedition. and il was
known that the Austrian army was pre-
pa ring 10 malcn lOFWdTu
Russia Aids in Pressure.
The attitude of Russia under these cir
cumstances was matter of great con-
Germ to Europe and when she joined in
the pressure being exercised on Monte
negro great relief was felt, as it had
been thought she would resist any at
tempt by Austria 10 order her army
soutnWard.
IT was suggested during the negstia-
tions mat the Ming OF MonteneSro was
10 receive a territorial compensation In
some other direction II he would give up
Scutari and that MS majesty WAS pre-
pairing to accept this ofer-
LONDON, May Montenegro has de-
cided, ACCORDING; to diplomatic advices re-
ceived mere touay, to leave the future Of
Scutari in the hands OF the powers. This
step IS taken TO mean lnai the eyacu-
alton OF the city Will De carried out I'M
! meuiately. The matter Will come up to-
uay at lne meeting OIL the ambassadors
In London OF the european powers who
will discuss the dNaiis.
No Conditions Mentioned.
BERLIN, May 5.-No conditions
! were mentioned by Montenegro today
/ when she informed the German for
eign office that she had decided to
place Scutari in the hands of the
| powers on the other hand, the for
| eign office says there Is no evidence
that any concrete step in this direc-
tion has yet been taken, and doubt
is expressed by officials to the
yeracity of the reports that Monte
negro has already evacuated the city.
No date for the evacuation OF
Scutari by the Montenegrin troops
was given in the communication re-
ceived here. from Cetinje. out there
is reason to believe that the German
minister in the Montenegrin capital
received assurances from King Mich
| oias that the first steps would be
| taken within twenty-feur hours.
Further details Of the intention OF
| Montenegro may be forthcoming dur
ing the conference OF ambassadors in
London today.
The news received from the Ger
man minister at Cetinje and the
strength of the Vienna markets con-
firm the belief of Berlin financial cir
cles that a peaceful settlement was in
sight, but the bourse, although firm
and somewhat higher. opened with
great reserve, the speculative interests
being slow to revive their optimism.