Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-22
AUSTRIA IS FIRM
n BALKAN CRISIS
Sends Strong Note to Monte
negro, Which Is in Nature
of an UItimatum.
BARBARlSM BY SERVIA
IN ALBANIAN VILLAGES
Troops Said to Practice Unrestrained
Savagery, Especially Upon
Women.

VIENNA, March 22.-The Austro-H Hun.
garian government today addressed q
strongly worded note to Montenegro
whlca was in the nature of an ultimatum
The Austrian government brought the
Balkan situation close to crisis by making
several peremptory demands on Monte
negro.
The Austrian minister at Cettinje, the
Montenegrin capital, was instructed to in
form the Montenegrin government that
it must comply with the following:
Demands Of Austria.
The free exit from the fortress of Sou
tari of all non-combatants.
Explanation of the death of Catholic
priest, named Pale. who is said to have
been slaughtered because he opposed the
violent conversions of prisoners.
Violent conversions must cease instant.
ly.
Full satisfaction must be given for the
violence shown by the Montenegrins and
Seryians at San Giovanni di Medue, on
the Adriatic coast, toward the crew OF
the Austrian merchant vessel Skodra.
King Refuses Most of Demands.
King Nicholas of Montenegro today re-
piled to the peremptory demands made
by Austria in connection with the Mon
tenegrin bombardment of Scutari Al
though his note is conciliatory in tone,
the king refuses most Of Austria's de-
mands. He says he has ordered that the
bombardment be directed only against
the forts and that the rest of the city
shall not be shelled.
King Nicholas refuses, however, to al
low the non-combatants to leave the city,
and also rejects the proposal for the ap-
pointment- of a commission to investi-
gate the death of the Austrian priest,
Pale.
Barbarism in Albania.
LONDON. March PA dispatch to the
Daily Telegraph from Vienna says:
kilograms received here from Cattarc
agery and barbarism in Albania continue
and that the Montenegrins and .Servians
ssill perpetrate inhuman atrocities.
N the village of Schasschare, near Us.
sdescribable crueities on the women, all
the men and boys having been sent away.
Crimes at Other Places.
Similar crimes have been committed
by Servian soldiers at Letnica, which
like Schasschare is inhabited solely by
Albanian Catholics.
In Karadagh, go farms were burned
by Mohammedan Albanians. and all the
males who did not flee at the time were
shot down by the soldiers in the villages.
In all. 23S men were slaughtered without
mercy
The new crisis in the Balkans led to the
instant recall from their Easter vacations
of ambassadors in London Of the Euro
pean powersS They met In conference
this afternoon to discuss the situation.
Consider Austria's Wishes.
The special object of today's meeting
of the European ambassadors was to
agree on the wording of combined repre-
Sentations TO be made at Cettinje the
Montenegrin capital, urging conciliatory
acquiescence in the wishes of Austria
Hungary. Emphasis is to be laid on
the fact that the powers have definitely
resolved that Scutari shall be part of
Albania, and even it's capture by the
Montenegrin besiegers will not alter this
decision.
The interesting dispatch from the be-
leaguered fortress of Adrianople received
this morning shows that the garrison
under Shukri Pasha has no intention of
capitulating. The message was sent by
wireless telegraphy to Constantinople and
thence cabled abroad.
No Surrender at Adrianople.
ADRIANOPLE, March 81, am. fby
wireless to Constantinopie).-Sh
Pasha, the commander of this fortress
and his troops are determined to continue
the defense they have now carried on for
FIVE months, and all reports as to offers
made by them to surrender may be dis
missed as pure inventions
Only starvation can force the capitula-
tion of the beleagured garrison. Food is
stiH regularly distributed among the popu-
1ation by the military authorities and
there are considerable supplies.
Perfect order prevails within the city
The Bulgarian besiegers are making nc
have been futile. The intermittent bonn
bardment has done no harm to the de.
Tending forts.
Discord Among Allied Armies.
Discord is said to prevail among the al
lied armies. The Servians brought up to
assist the Bulgarians In the siege remain
idle In their lines and are not participant
ing IN any Of the active operations
The report from Sofia that Shukri
Pasha had ordered the Greek and Arme
nlan bishops here to be hanged because
they had drawn attention to the alleged
miseries of the population is groundless
|
the two prelates themselves being most
energetic in protesting against the story.
Iney eXtol the courtesy of the command
er, pralsing his solicitude for the civil and
military population of the city.
Austria May Attack Montenegro.
BERLIN, March 22-The German fou,
,eisn office learned today that armed op-
erations against Montenegro by the Aus
| trian navy may be expected soon. Ar
Austrian squadron is now maneuvering
| off the Montenegrin and Albanian coasts
| The officials of the German foreign of
/ flee state that Austria will send one
further note 10 Montenegro so as to ex
haust the possibilities OF diplomacy be
| fore the character of the activity Of th.
| warships changes from demonstration
| into offensive action. IT is understood
| t5at Russia has counseled the Montene
| griss to yield.
Greeks Seize German Steamer.
| BREMEN. Germany. March 22.-Greel
warships today seized the German steam
+er Irmingard off the Island of Lemnos II
| the Aegean sea- She sailed from Barry
Wales. February IS for Genoa No de
| tails of the reason for her capture ar,
given in the telegram received by tn,
/ owners.