Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 126, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1913 — BLAKAN WAR BEGAN IN 1663 [ARTICLE]

BLAKAN WAR BEGAN IN 1663

Conflict of Races Started Long Ago, Seems Destined Now to Be Fought to a Fnish. ' Italian newspaper reminds us usefully that the Balkaff* war began centuries sago. In the state archives at Vienna is the declaration of war sent by Sultan Mehemet IV. to Emperor Leopold in 1682. “Be it known to you, the heir of the Caesars, to the king of Poland, and to your allies and omnipotent emperor of the east and west, . . . is on the point of invading your paltry territories. We shall bring 1,300,000 soldiers,.on horse and foot*, to crush you utterly and lay waste all your domains. We command you to await our coming in our residence In Vienna, where it is our intention to have jrou beheaded.” *. . But the war was even then an old story. The delightful writer who contributes “The Office Window” to the London Daily Chronicle tells us while searching through some of the earliest newspapers printed his eye was continually diverted, to news letters from the continent giving accounts of the unholy war which Turkey was waging on Hungary and Austria. Almost at random he copies the following from the Newes of Stetember 17, 1633, a grim reminder that the Turk has remained unchanged and unchangeable for these 250 years at least: “Vienna, Sept. 6. —ln Austria every Fifth Man is to bear Armes; and they hope to raise 20,000 Men upon that Levy to secure the *Frontiers. At this Inßtant comes fresh Intelligence of 10,000 Turks, and as many Tartars, passing the Waegh, and that they carry all before them with Fire and Sword.” And again: “We bear that upon the third instant the Enemy has beaten our Foot by the River Waegh, and Possess’d himself of the narrow Passages between the Hills, where he has burnt divers Towns and Villages, and Massacred many Thousands of People, striking off the heads of some, putting other in Chains . . . and cutting to pieces Young and Old without Distinction or Mercy."