Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1903 — TURKEY EXPECTS WAR SOON. [ARTICLE]

TURKEY EXPECTS WAR SOON.

Claah with Bulgaria Feems .Certai* Before September End*. The latest orders from the Turkish government are regarded as a sure indication that the Porte entertains serious apprehensions of war. Sixteen battalions of mustahfuz, or second reserves, have been called to arms In the Salonica, U*kub and Monastic districts and the artillery and cavalry reserves of the Adrianople and Smyrna divisions have also been mobilized. The commander of the third army corps has been ordered to strictly watch the Servian frontier, where, it Is thought, revolutionary bands will probably cross. War between Turkey and Bulgaria is now regarded as‘ inevitable. It is even believed that the outbreak of hostilities will occur before the end of September, when the re-enforcements from Asia will have been concentrated in Macedonia and in the vilayet of Adrianople. It is not thought that there will be any formal declaration of war, in view of Bulgaria’s vassal status, but that some frontier incident will precipitate hostilities. The Bulgarians and Macedonians residing in Constantinople are in terror of massacre. A large number of them were arrested a few days ago as a “preventative measure” and they have not yet been released. The fear of a massacre is probably exaggerated, although in view of the present excited state of Mussulman feeling an Insignificant incident might perhaps lead to a massacre. The terrible accounts received regarding the conduct of the Turkish troops have not surprised European circles, but many who have hitherto been optimistic in their views now accept the prevailing belief that Turkey is on the eve of a catastrophe. ° A consular dispatch from Salyonica says that according to authentic information the insurrection in tihe district of Monastic has been practically stamped out. Bashi-ba-zouks assisted the regular troops in the work of repression, which is said to have been carried out with sanguinary ruthlessness, the object of the Turks being,'' apparently, to exterminate not only the Bulgarian inhabitants, but all the Christians of whatever nationality. The State Department received a cablegram Tuesday from Minister Leishtnan at Constantinople, in which he says that a riot occurred early Monday or Sunday night at Beirut in which seven Christians were killed and several wounded. Two houses occupied by Christians were pillaged by the soldiery. The panic was general.