Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

No. 524.]

Sir: The political situation in Macedonia continues to grow worse each week. The revolt has become much more general and the outrages committed by the revolutionists more barbarous and on a much larger scale than heretofore, the bands having increased both in size and number.

The delicate situation has been further strained during the past week by the death of the Russian consul at Monastir who was shot by a Turkish sentinel.

* * * * * * *

Up to the present time the Turkish Government has acted with commendable patience and forbearance and have prevented both the non-Bulgarian population and the troops from making reprisals for the numerous depredations committed by the bands, such as blowing up bridges and buildings with dynamite, destruction of crops, burning of villages, and the killing of hundreds of inoffensive people, including women and children.

The fear of massacres and possible consequent intervention of the European powers is no doubt largely responsible for the great forbearance shown by the Turks so far, but should the outrages continue, which is altogether likely, it is only reasonable to suppose that sharp reprisals will occur, which, in all probability, would result in open hostilities.

* * * * * * *

The reports from Armenia are somewhat disquieting, but if there should be a sympathetic outbreak I am inclined to believe that it will be confined to certain spots and not a general uprising, and while reprisals by the Turks would no doubt follow, I do not share the belief of many that a repetition of the massacres of 1896 is imminent. * * *

While there is no evidence at present to warrant any fear of harm befalling American citizens, I have deemed it prudent to warn the missionaries in the interior to exercise care, a copy of my note to Mr. Peet being inclosed herewith.

I also inclose copy of a dispatch just received from our consular agent at Salonica reporting upon the local situation.

I have, etc.,

John G. A. Leishman.
[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Peet.

Sir: While I have no particular reason to feel alarmed in regard to the personal safety of American citizens in Macedonia, in view of the fact that the insurrectionary movement is becoming more general and outrages and assaults on villages a daily [Page 763] occurrence, it would be well for you to advise the missionaries in Macedonia to exercise extra care and to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

The quiet and patient behavior of the troops and Mussulman population, under the greatest provocation, warrants the belief that the Ottoman Government will do all in its power to prevent any harm befalling foreign subjects, but it would be difficult if not impossible for any power to guarantee freedom from injury by such acts as the wild and random outrages committed by the revolutionists, commencing with the dastardly affair at Salonica.

It might also be wise for you to caution our people in Armenia, where occasional small outbreaks warrant the suspicion that a slumbering sympathetic movement exists, and the fact that the missionaries at Van requested the legation’s aid some months ago to secure Turkish protection against the Armenians lends additional color to this suspicion.

I merely make this suggestion as a precautionary measure, believing prudence to be the better part of valor.

I am, etc.,

John G. A. Leishman.
[Inclosure 2.]

Mr. Lazarro to Mr. Leishman.

Sir: I beg to submit some facts, mostly relating to the political situation in western Macedonia, where the revolutionary movement has taken quite a new aspect and considerably increased, especially during the last fortnight.

The information has been obtained from reliable sources, but I can not vouch for the exactitude of all the details. On August 2, 200 rebels engaged in a fight about Resen, a small town near Monastir, seem to have been destroyed by the Turkish troops. The Turkish quarter in Resen was burned by the Bulgarians.

On August 3, 1,500 Bulgarians entered the Greco-Wallack town of Krushevo, four hours to the northwest of Monastir, near Prilep, and after firing the public buildings and killing all the Turkish inhabitants and garrison (about 50) they took possession of the place and hoisted the rebel flag, which is black with two white “C,” meaning “liberty or death.” Up to the present, although Krushevo has been bombarded by artillery from the plain beneath, it is still in the hands of the insurgents. The rebels have also taken and are still holding Smilievo, a large Bulgarian village near Krushevo, also the Greco-Wallack town of Klissura and village of Neveska, both in the Fiorina district to the southeast of Monastir.

One hundred wounded soldiers and the bodies of 2 officers killed in encounter about Smilievo were brought to Monastir on August 5. In the same region the rebels are said to have killed 70 soldiers at Gopech and 2 Albanian beys with their retinue at Presba.

Forty Turkish villagers from Germany, while on their way to the Castoria market, were killed by the rebels and their village burned.

The Turkish villages of Budakli, Mosintza, Elekler, Kanaklar, Kachani, accepted the protection of the insurgents and gave up their arms to representatives of the revolutionary committee. Excepting two, all of the villages of the Kichevo district have been abandoned. Bolne and Krusne, Bulgarian villages 3 miles from Resen, have been burned by the Turks.

As rebel bands were approaching the town of Ochrida the Turks fell on the Christian quarter, killing everybody, and set fire to the place. The Bulgarians retaliated by burning and massacreing various Turkish villages of the Ochrida district. In the Fiorina district 600 rebels camp in the mountains in a position considered impregnable. There they have ovens for baking biscuit, a clothing depot, and ammunition stores.

One thousand soldiers, who were sent to take the place, had to retreat after severe losses. Several bridges were blown up on the Monastir and Uskup Railroad. The largest of these bridges was blown up on the night of the 12th instant near Florina. The bridge was 15 meters long. The attempt to wreck the Uskup train on the 9th instant did not succeed. The infernal machine which should have been on board the train exploded at the depot of Zibeftche-Servian frontier.

The assassination by a Zaptieh of the Russian consul at Monastir has caused considerable excitement. The post-mortem examination proves that the victim received several shot wounds after his death, and it seems that, at least this time, there was no further provocation on the part of Mr. Rostkowsky than his insistence to be saluted by the Turkish guards.

[Page 764]

As there was a rumor of a possible attempt of the Bulgarians to throw bombs against the Turkish mosques and provoke a general massacre of the Christians in Salonica, I saw the military governor and arranged that extra patrols should be kept night and day around the residence of the American mission here.

The plan of the insurgents seems to be to draw away the Turkish troops from Albania and the Bulgarian frontier (sixteen batallions have already been sent to the Monastir vilayet from Albania), gather them toward western Macedonia, then cut the communications by destroying the railroads, and start the movement on the eastern border nearer Bulgaria.

I have, etc.,

Hdgi Lazarro,
United States Consular Agent.