Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1890-02-22 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE PLOT IN BULGARIA.  Public opinion will have (uys a Vienna co pendent) to suspend its judgment on the plot in Bulgaria until all the evidence about it is laid before Major Paretan's judges. It is now announced that the prisoner and his accomplices will be tried by court-martial after all, and that the trial will come on in about • fortnight. Since the Major's arrest four contradictory versions of his offence have been put forth with the stamp of official authority. First it was Said that the Major had merely used insulting language towards the Government. Next he was accused of being the ringleader in a murderous plot with wide ramifications. After this it was given out that there were two plots, one of which was directed against Major Panitta himself, who was to have been put out of the way after he had led • prenunciemiento. Finally, M. Starabouloff 's official writers are now declaring that Major rimier& conspired without having any important accomplices, that Prince Ferdinand was never in any serious danger, that no extra precautions have to be taken for his safety, and that a thoroughly loyal spirit prevails through. out the army. Private letters from Sofia bring information totally at variance with this last version. Disaffection W said to have been growing in the army for some time, and the quarrel between Major Panims, and Colonel Mutkuroff about the Mannlicher ritlee brought matters to such a pass that it bee Arne necessary to make an example, and Major Pianitza was arrested as being the foremost and noisiest among the malcontents. The Government assert that Major Panitra grumbled against the Mannlichers simply because he did not Obtain s commission that was to have been paid him by a firm which had made a tender of Berdah rifles. Major Intake& and his friends answer that M. Stambouloff and Colonel Mutkuroff both hoped to make a profit out of the Mannlicher contract, and that it was Major Panitra's open denunciation of their underhand dealing which drove them to exasperation. The one certain fact in this petty dispute is that great irritation was caused among the majority of the officers in Sofia when Colonel Mutkuroff overrode the decisions of three military Commissions which had pronounced adversely to the Mannlicher. Major Panitza has confessed that he wished to get rid of the Prince and his two principal Ministers, but, as already reported, he repudiates all complicity with Russian designs. His friends at home and abroad go further and say that there is possibly a great deal of bravado in his confession. The man feels himself in btambouloff 'a power, and, expecting no mercy, thinks it best to put a bold face on the matter, trusting he may rouse &UM. Stambouloff's enemies to make s demonstration in his favour. Asto the Russian plot, nobody doubts that the Government has discovered proofs than Panslavist agents have beers working to stir up mutiny and sedition, but it is pointed out that Russian conspiracies are a chronic pest in Bulgaria, and that the Government has no evidence to connect Major Panitza with any plot of foreign origin. One can only chronicle these conflicting rumours, without attempting to guess where the truth lies. Meanwhile, however, the general situation in Bulgaria has begun to excite anxious apprehensions among Hungarian politicians, and • movement is afoot for inducing the Vienna Cabinet to take the lead in trying to obtain FrillCo Ferdinand's recognition by the Powers. Count Kalnoky is not likely to assume the responsibility unless moved to it by a strong expression of opinion on the part of the Delegations. The Delegations do not meet till May, and a great deal may happen between now and then; but should any fresh troubles arise in Bulgaria, it is more than probable that, in the Hungarian Delegation at least, Prince Ferdinand's position will be discussed with great sympathy and with something more than • platonic wish that his Highness's hands should be strengthened against conspirators.