THE BALKANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 987, 5 September 1903, Page 2

THE BALKANS.

lIREATENING THE SULTAN’S

LIFE.

TURK« PLUNDERING GREEKS'*

HOUSE*

By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 3. The Sultan has been the recipient of letters threatening himself, and has redoubled his guard. Strict surveillanco is being observed, lest infernal machines aro sent to the Yiidiz Palace. The steamer Yaskopu belonged to tho Hungarian Levant Steamship Company. She was soarched for explosives at Varna. Being laden with timber aud coal sho burned rapidly. Sailors from despatch boats havo been landed to protect tbe Embassies. The Porte promised Russia the dismissal of 24 officials for malpractice. Nino were dismissed, three promoted, and some transferred elsewhere. The Sultan, in the courso of a speech at Constantinople, declared that he was convinced the rising had not proceeded spontaneously from the people, but had been instigated abroad. Ho regretted that Greece had suffered, und would ho pleased to subscribe to relief. He regretted that some soldiers had acted contrary to his orders.

Tho Turks endeavored to compel the Krushevo refugees to sign a declaration that the outrages were the work of Macedonians. Evidence, however, is forthcoming that the Turks plundered tho rioher Greeks’ houses. They spared tho Bulgarian quarter, fearing they had been under, mined, and because the valuables had been removed.

PARIS, Sept. 3. Tho nowspaper Matin states that tho French Cabinet is considering the advisability of reinforcing the Eastern Mediter rauean squadron.

LONDON, Sept, 3. Tho Standard, commenting on the importance of King Edward’s, the Kaiser’s, and the Czar’s visits at this juncture, to Vienna, says the solution of tho Balkan ombroglio lies with Austria more than any other Power. Europe relies largely on the Emperor Joseph’s tried sagacity to terminate a situation which, bosides boing a scandal to humanity, is fast becoming a grave political dangor.

ST. PETERSBURG, Sopt. 3. Tho newspaper Novoe Vremya strongly hints that Russia alone, Austria supporting her, will formulate and enforce final reforms in Macodouia and Old Secvia. The Government have declined to receive a Maoedonian deputation on the ground that it is not necessary, as the Government understood the deputation's purpose. MORE FIGHTING. .

VARYING FORTUNES OF THE ENCOUNTERS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 10.47 p.in., Sept. 4. Constantinople, Sept, 4. An insurgent band under Chokalaroff had a fight with Turkish troops at Dawbeni, Dibra district. Both lost hoavily. The troops wore badly defeated in trying to capture a pass leading over the Sateska river valley. A congress of gymnasium professors at Sofia adopted a resolution of sympathy with tho revolutionaries, and expressed admiration for their bravery. Soetilolf, Macedonian agent at Bucharest, has been arrested on a charge of extorting from various persons £IOOO for Saravoff.

Turkish troops defeated 250 insurgonts at Dalmotogertzi, near Uskub, killing 14. Tho,y plundered and burned tho village. Turkish railways refuse to convey soldiers without payment from Government in advance.

lusurgont bands are crossing the Bulge, rian frontier daily. ,

TROOPS’ EXCESSES. KING EDWARD’S OPINION. By Telegraph. Press Association. Copyright (Received Sept. 5, 11.17 p.m.)

Athens, Sopt. 4, The Greek Premier has urged the Powers to insist on the Porto punishing Baknor Pasha, Governor of Krushovo, and the troops fer excesses in that district. Constantinople, Sept. 4. Thirty-six were killed aboard the Vaskopu, including twenty-seven passengers. The outrage has caused consternation in Constantinople. The Vaskopu has been brought to Burgas.

Sofia, Sept. 4.

Ferdinand presided at a Council of Ministers held at Exinogrod, including the Premier, Ministers of War and Interior. There is much anxiety in Sofia awaiting the result.

London, Sopt. 4.

Tho Times’ Vienna correspondent reports that a semiofficially accredited rumor is current that King Edward expressed to Princess Clementine and Coluchowski disapproval of Bulgaria’s attitude in the Balkans, adding, “ Britain’s aims are identical with those of Austria and Russia.”

TURCO-BULGARIAN WAR FEARED OUTCOME OF VASKOPU OUTRAGE

8y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12.34 a.m., Sept. s*. London, Sept. 4.

The Daily Mail says tho outbreak of a Turco-Bulgarian war is daily feared in Belgrade. The Standerd’s Constantinople correspondent states that owing to alarm following the Sultan’s warning to the Embassies, I Russian and Austrian warships kept steam up all night. The British special service vessel Imogene, with the British, German, and Italian ambassadors aboard, steamed the whole evening up and down the Bosphorous. The correspondent adds : The Vaskopu outrage tends to complicate efforts to preserve peace, a task which is almost hourly growing more difficult.