Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1903 — TURKS GIVE NO MERCY. [ARTICLE]

TURKS GIVE NO MERCY.

Men, Women and Children Slain in Massacre. Laest reports from’ Kastoria say the cisy has been burned and that the massacre of its population (estimated to have numbered 10,000 persons) was indescribably terrible. The Turks slaughtered indiscriminately Bulgarians and Greeks. A severe fight occurred at Ulavitza, hi the mountains of Kratovo, between 2,000 Turks and 80 insurgents. It continued for eight hours. The insurgents used bombs with deadly effect. About 100 Turks are reported to have been killed and many were wounded. The insurgents had two men wounded. A fight is also reported to hate taken place at Rupelpaso, near Seres. Insurgent bands recently surrounded and annihilated a whole company of Turks. The bands then fled to the mountains. Three battalions of Turkish troops have been sent ffom Salonica to pursue them. A small band of peasant refugees, near Presbn, who were starving in the mountains, started to seek for. food. At Nakaletz they were met by Turkish soldiers, who killed them all and horribly mutilated two women.

The Gennan representative has addressed a note to the Bulgarian government in accordance with declarations of Russia and Austria saying that Bulgaria cannot expect assistance from any power in the event of war with Turkey, and that the Austro-Hungarian reform plan will be applied. The Austrian representative. In insisting on the necessity for Bulgaria remaining calm, declared that if the principality was powerless to prevent the passage of insurgent bands into Macedonia, Austria and Russia would take note of her powerlessness and charge Turkey to. exerciso her rights, defend her territory agninat foreign incursions, and maintain order in the interior.

The Bulgarian government, while steadily proceeding with the partial mobilization plans, Is endeavoring to avoid nnnoceaenrily exciting the people, nnd consequently hits resolved not to mobilize any part of tbe Sofia garrison.