The Washington herald., 1917-07-02
AUSTRIANS OPPRESS
MONTENEGRIN PEOPLE
Ouusses Are Frequent. Says Diplo-
mat in War-Ridden Country.
BY CAMILLo CRANFARRA,

BY CAMlLDO ChANFARRA,
International News Service Corespondent)
Rome. July Ill have Just learned
details of the cruel regime Austria
has inaugurated in the little con-
auered kingdom OF Montenegro. My
informant IL a neutral diplomat of
high standing who. for obvious rea-
sons, does not wish me to disclose
his name. His account follows:
The ruthless rule OF Baron Otto.
former Austrian minister plenipoten-
tiary at cettiBje, together with the
work Of the hangman and the perse-
cution on a large scale, have SO far
utterly failed in curbing the spirit of
the courageous, liberty-lsvins pepula-
tion Of Montenegro.
First of all. Austria endeavored to
destroy In the kingdem every surviv-
ing trace OF foreign influence, espe-
cially Serbian and Italian. As re-
CARDS Serbia Barren Otto kept .
steady stream Of literature In the Ser
bian language flowing into the little
kingdom depicting in bright eolors
how happy and how prosperous the
Serbian nation was under Austrian
domination.
FOR Italy radical different
method was adopted. Italian news
papers. containing defamatory arti-
cles concerning Montenegro and the
part its people had played in the
war, were introduced and circulated
among the best class Of Montene-
grins.
when this propaganda failed to
bring the desired results, the author
tiles. until then suave and consider
ate, suddenly became cruel and ty-
rannical.
Every town was practically con-
vertsd into a concentration camp and
its Inhabitants prohibited from COR
responding, except by mail, or visit
ing the people Of any nearby town.
A strict censorship was established.
Any violation OF this rule was pun
ished by a long term in prison, and
II the culprit was found to have
visited q certain locality in order to
plot against the new rulers, capital
punishment was imposed. No other
evidence was required to establish a
mans guilt than the testimony OF
one of the many spies which Mai.
Hubka. former military attache at the
Austrian legation. had scattered
everywhere
During the first FIVE months Of
AdSlldIl rue lle hdnSman WORKED
day and night and the corpses of the
vicsms were left dangling from the
scaholds for several days as a warn
ing.
The report by the head Of the
Austrian secret service that an in
surrection was imminent was the sig
nal for the deportation TO Austria of
large number of Montenegrin no.
tables. This report was based solely
On Gen. Vesovitch's fight after kill
ng the captain who had been detailed
70 watch him in his own house at
Settinje. The general, who had dis
hnguished himself in the last two
Balkan wars and had been minister
u war and later military governor Of
scutari, killed the captain in the
course OF an argument and took to
ne mountains after scizing one of the
lrsenals and distributing among his
followers a large number Of rifles
Every attempt to capture him failed.
md then Gen. Weber. military gov
srnor Of Cettinje. put a 5000 crown
prize on his head.
AS the population spurned the offer,
.-s authorities arrested the generals
father. an old man 30 years of age,
ard his brother. a youth hardly Is.
The threat that they would both be
hanged unless the general surren-
esred was carried out only In part
The old mans sentence was COM
rnuted TO imprisonment for life, but
the young man was executed.