The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-04
Albania and the EpirOtes.

The dreadful massacre at KOlOnia in
the new Albanian State Is no surprise
to those who have kept watch on post
bellum developments in the Balkan
peninsula. There Is much reason TO
fear that It will not be an isolated in
cident. There IL profound disturbance
In southern Albania. or northern Epirus,
as one may prefer to call the disputed
region. and not impossibly the great
Powers may be entangled once more iu
the issue.
1t all comes Of the patchwork job Of
adjustment which the Powers have i'm
posed on the recent combatants and in
particular from the erection Of the little
kingdom Of Albania. To make this
latter possible II was necessary TO rob
Greece Of good slice Of the territory
for which she went to war with Tur.
key. The section known as northern
Epirus. which she conquered. was
wrested from her and Incorporated IN
Albania. The Powers pleaded neces.
sity; the great market towns Of north
ern Albania. lpek. Djakora and Dibra.
were Topped OF In order to exc out
Montenegro's indemnity. In order to
make Albania economically possible as
an independent State something had
to be given to her to the south At the
expense Of Greece.
Greece reluctantly consented to the
deal In consideration Of being con-
firmed In possession Of majority of
the islands In the Grecian archipelago
which she captured from Turkey. She
withdrew her garrisons, "mournfully
but Loyalty" from the towns Of north
ern Epirus. forbade the Inhabitants of
the region to migrate into Greece and
compelled officers in her army who ex-
pressed satisfaction to resign their
commissions. Her attitude, as the dip
lOmats put II. was most correct toward
the Powers and toward Albania.
But the Epirotes refused to he pla-
Gated. Hellenes In blood and aspira.
ton. they desire annexation to Greece
as ardently as ever did the Cretans.
Besides. they hate and despise the Al
banians. whose superior they are in
civilization and from whom they are
alien In race. manners and religion
They refused to have anything to do
with the new kingdom: they organized
a provisional government with one
ZOGRAPHos as President and under
Greek ex-officers prepared for desper-
ate struggle. The progress Of this Is
Indicated by the ma ssacre mt Kolonia
told In the cable dispatches Yesterday.
The poor Prince of WED, newly in.
Quoted AZ King or Mpret Of Albania.
IL placed In desperate position 10y the
revolt Of his best province. economi-
cally speaking. lie has announced
that he would head an Albanian force
to put down the instruction. but the
Albanian forces consist only Of 1000
gendarmerie. lately organized under
Dutch officers as a rural police. n very
doubtful fighting force. and few thou
sand wild tribesmen, semi-enrolled as
the personal following Of EssAD Pa sha,
who Is really the Kings chief rival for
the sorry throne. 1t IL very doubtful
whether these resources are adequate
to the task Of reducing the Epirotes
to submission.
The great danger to Albania and TO
Europe Is that Austria or Italy or both
may take hand In the game ana send
troops to end the revolt. It IL plainly
seen that this would not only render
Albanian autonomy a farce but would
drag all the Powers into the arena
with renewed peril to the peace OF
CurODp