Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-19

Evidence gathered regarding the VIII
lage of Akanjeh satisfied the commits
sion that, although the village sub
mitted from the first, it was sacked
and burned: the Greek troops gave
themselves up openly to debauch OF
lust; and that many Of the peasants
were killed wantonly and without pro-
vocation. The mass of evidence, ac-
cording to the report, goes 10 show
that there was nothing singular in the
cases which the Commission itself
investigated. In one instance a num-
Der of European witnessed the brutal
conduct of a detachment of Greek reg
ulars under three officers. Fifteen
wounded Bulgarian soldiers took ref
uge in the Catholic convent of Paliort-
81 and were nursed by the sisters.
Father Alloati reported this fact to
the Greek commandant, whereupon
detachment was sent to search for a
Bulgarian chief who was not there. In
the course of the search the Bulgarian
Catholic priest was severely tioSged II
the presence of Greek officers. A Greek
soldier attempted to violate nun, five
bulgarian women and a young girl
were tortured and large number of
peasants carried off to prison without
reason. The officer in command
threatened to kill Father Alloau on
the spot and to burn down the con-
vent.
IF such things could be done to
Europeans in building under the pro-
| lection of the, French flag continues
| the report. st is not difficult to believe
that Bulgarian peasants Jared incom-
parahly worse Denial unfortunately
is impossible. No verdict which could
| be based on the evidence collected by
the commission could be more severe
than that which Greek soldiers have
pronounced upon themselves"
A series of % letters written by
Greek soldiers, containing definite
avowals of the brutalities they had
committed were studied with partic-
ular care by the commission.
The commission was unable to IN
form itself fully on the conduct or the
Servian army toward Bulgarian nom
combatants, but it regards the DESC
late waste of burned villages as sig
nificant. No moral judgment is Ven
tured upon the conduct of the Balkan
races. Partial condonement of their
offenses is found by the commission In
| the fact that the Balkans grew up
amid Turkish models of warfare, the
memory of which was still an open
wound.
In a subsequent chapter there Is an
| exposure of the atrocities committed
| at Adrianople by the Bulgarians ana
reprisals by the Turks. The recital OF
murder, massacres, torture, pillage
rspe and unspeakable cruelties is con-
timed. Instances include the drown
! ing of As Turks at Kavagatch by Bull
garians. the numbering of 300 people
| in and about Rodosto as Turkish re-
prisal A Greek report states that the
Turkish army killed. burned and DIS
bursed total population OF 1o,soo In
! the Niagara district.
| In commenting on the Bulgarian
Servian country the commission says
1.-The things we have described, hofrl-
| BILE as they are, are evidence or an
abnormal condition which cannot con-
time. Nature herself revolts against
such excuses as We have observer
on the part of both adversarles.
After a chapter on the War and In
ternational Law and consideration
! of the economic consequences OIL the
two wars, the commission closes It's re-
port with conjecture as to the future
| of Macedonia.
What then Is the duty of the CIV
| ilized world in the Balkans" con-
cludes the report, especially of these
/ nations who by their location and his
tory are free from international en-
tanglements 1t. is clear in the first
! place that they should cease to exploit
these nations for gain. They should
encourage them to mako arbitration
treaties and insist upon their keeping
them. They should set a good example
by seeking a judicial settlement OF all
international disputes. The conse-
auences of the recent war. economic
moral and social are dreadful enough
to justify any honest effort by any
person or by any nation to alleviate
the really distressing situation.