étrangers et les édifices publics sont gardés par les troupes Impériales. || Il est à remarquer qu'un Bulgare, Dascal Yorghi, qui s'était embarqué à Salonique sur le paquebot le „Guadalquivir" et qui, d'après un avis donné par le Consul de France, serait l'auteur de l'incendie mise avec de la dynamite à ce bateau, a été arrêté à Uskub, où il s'était enfui. || Le Gouvernement Impérial tient à constater la promptitude avec laquelle les autorités ont agi pour déjouer les projects criminels des révolutionnaires Bulgares, sans que l'ordre et la tranquillité aient été troublés. Elles continuent à veiller sur la sécurité publique pour le maintien de laquelle toutes les mesures nécessaires ont été prises.

Nr. 13256. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Botschafter in Wien an den Minister des Ausw. Graf Goluchowski sieht die Balkanvorgänge optimistisch an.

Vienna, May 6, 1903. (May 6.)

(Telegraphic.) | Count Goluchowski expects no immediate danger in Albania, and I found his Excellency altogether hopeful in regard to the Balkan outlook. He told me that he had just seen the Bulgarian Agent, who had no information as to when Prince Ferdinand would return to Sophia. || The Austrian men-of-war will remain at Salonica for a short time longer for the protection of the numerous Austro-Hungarian subjects there. Nr. 13257. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Botschafter in Petersburg an den Minister des Ausw. Anschauung Lamsdorffs.

St. Petersburgh, May 7, 1903. (May 7.) (Telegraphic.) || The latest reports which Count Lamsdorff has received from Constantinople appear to him more satisfactory. He agrees with the views of His Majesty's Government that the presence of ships of war at Salonica is unnecessary, and might be misinterpreted, and, for the present, no Russian ships will be sent there. || He has communicated with the Porte in the sense that the Bulgarian Government, which is doing its best, cannot be held responsible for the Salonica outrages, and he has advised against any provocative action.

Nr. 13258. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Generalkonsul in Saloniki an den Botschafter in Konstantinopel. Bericht über die Attentate.

Salonica, May 2, 1903. (May 11.)

Sir, With reference to my telegrams of the 30th ultimo, I have the honour to report that the gas went out all over the town owing to

the main being blown up at about 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening, the 29th ultimo. | A moment afterwards there was a series of lesser explosions, followed by a very loud detonation. || Seven Bulgarians had driven up to the Ottoman Bank, and, while the sentry's attention was distracted by the feigned quarrelling of some of them, the others killed him, a gendarme, and a watchman. Six of them then threw bombs at the Bank, three being killed on the spot and three wounded. The seventh made an ineffectual attempt on the Ottoman Post Office, which is opposite the Bank, killing a cavass, who tried to remove a bomb, and his son. At the same time, revolver shots were fired by the Bulgarians round the Bank and in neighbouring streets. || After the explosion of the first bombs the Bank was blown up bodily, its back wall falling on the part of the Hôtel Colombo occupied by the German Club, in which there where some six Germans and others. Of the former one was killed and four more or less seriously injuried. The Bank, in the meantime, was already blazing. The Vali, Mushir, police, and soldiers were quickly on the spot, and, although there was naturally some panic and confusion at first, the soldiers and gendarmes settled rapidly to their work of clearing the streets and searching the surrounding houses, in which a number of Bulgarians not belonging to the town were arrested. || Mr. Shipley, whom I had at once sent down to render what assistance he could to the Protestant Mission, which is very nearly opposite the Bank, testifies to the activity and courage displayed by the authorities. It was ascertained yesterday that an underground passage had been made from a shop on the other side of the street to the Bank, and a mine laid loaded with dynamite, and connected with the shop by electricity. It must have taken months to make this subterranean passage, the earth from it being carried away in handkerchiefs and small paper parcels, and thrown into the sea or elsewhere at a considerable distance from the spot. || A complete plant for the manufacture of bombs was discovered, including thirtysix 1-lb. jars of nitro-glycerine, some dynamite, a few bombs, and a coil of fuse. || The discovery of this mine explains the sudden and complete collapse of the Ottoman Bank (of which only the front wall remains) as compared with the slight damage done by the bombs; and in connection with the very great quantity of explosives which is being discovered, tends to discourage the idea that men who have worked so patiently, secretly, and succesfully will be stopped in their coure by the check which they have received. || The quarter in which the Bank stands is known as the Frank Mahallé, and contains, besides the Bank, the Catholic Cathedral, French Hospital, and Girls' School (directed by French Sisters), the

Scotch and American Missions, the Bank of Salonica, besides the shops. and offices of the principal merchants. || A little while after the attack on the Bank an attack was made on the old fortress of Topkbané, which is about 300 yards from the Bank; but the assailants were beaten off towards the German School, which is situated about 200 yards further on. Two cartloads of dead were removed, but it is not known who suffered more severely the troops or the Bulgarians. The German School was also attacked by a man Elia of Keuprulu, said to be a Bulgarian officer who, standing on a balcony overlooking the courtyard and the street, kept the soldiers at bay with bombs for one and a-half hours, during which time he is said to have thrown thirty or forty, doing little damage. He was finally shot by some soldiers who managed to break into the house. || At the same time (8 to 10 P. M.) bombs were also thrown into the Alhambra Café, on the quay, and one waiter was killed. The Bulgarian, when arrested yesterday afternoon, was in the possession of a quantity of bombs, which he said he was reserving for the Greek Consulate and Archbishop's house. || Another bomb was thrown into the Café Nonio by a certain well-known Bulgarian merchant, a man of wealth and position. His participation in the outrages proves that it is hardly possible for any Bulgarian, of whatever standing, to escape the clutches of the Committee. || Bomb-throwing went on sporadically the whole of Thursday. Three manufacturers of explosives were discovered in a house rented to them by a Catholic priest, and situated immediately behind the mass of buildings which constitute the French Church, Convent School, and Hospital. Two were killed when they had exhausted their stock of bombs; the other committed suicide. The former were officers - the latter a student at the Bulgarian School. || On Thursday evening, the severest measures were taken to keep the streets clear; all circulation being prohibited after sunset; two men being discovered by the police lurking near the Constantinople line took to flight in the direction of a small house. On the arrival of the police, bomb-throwing began. Two of the occupants were killed by the explosion of dynamite, the other two were shot; the house was destroyed by fire. || The police and military authorities have shown the greatest activity and courage in looking for and arresting all suspicious characters, many of whom offered a desperate resistance, and in searching houses for bombs. The great majority of the deaths among the Bulgarians was due to resistance or flight. The number killed is not exactly known. From Mr. Shipley's personal investigation of the ground, I know that thirty or thirty-two were buried in one of the Bulgarian cemeteries, but I do not know how many there

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were in the other, and there is a rumour that some were carried off to be buried secretly. || From the impenetrable tangle of rumours and exaggerations, it is at present impossible to extract the truth, but one thing is certain, that there has been no approach to massacre". One was reported to me to have occurred in a khan near the German School. I went there myself, and found that one man, who was throwing bombs into the street from the roof, had been shot - nothing else. || As to the „regrettable but unavoidable incidents" which I reported, I find that the only one I can vouch for is the death of four Greeks, who when told to stop by the soldiers took to flight and were shot. || There is very little doubt that the precautions taken in anticipation of outrages during the Greek Easter week forced the Bulgarians to hold their hands then, and that the relaxation of official vigilance, once that week passed, gave them their opportunity. It is to be feared that there may be another such reaction on the part of the authorities, and that, after an interval of tranquillity, there may be a fresh outburst on the part of the Bulgarians. It is most essential that the precautionary measures now adopted should be continued till not only Salonica town but the province is reduced to such a state of order as to form a guarantee for its future tranquillity. I knew on the day before the Bank was blown up too late, therefore, to report that the Bulgarians in the town had drawn lots as to what each one should do towards the execution of their designs. || The tranquillity of the interior is a striking fact, not a single disturbance having been reported so far. Alfred Biliotti.

Nr. 13259. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Vizekonsul in Monastir

an den Generalkonsul in Saloniki. Bericht über die bulgarischen Banden.

Monastir, April 28, 1903. (May 11.)

Sir, I have the honour to submit herewith, for your information, a statement showing as accurately as is possible under the circumstances the strength and distribution of the various Bulgarian insurgent bands at present existing in this vilayet. I need hardly premise that absolute accuracy is unattainable, and, even were the contrary the case, the constant fluctuations in the composition of any given band and the necessity for frequent changes of head-quarters prevent such a statement from having more than a very ephemeral value. | The number of bands now formed in the vilayet is twenty-nine or thirty, representing a force of at least 700 men, and the districts which they at present frequent in greatest strength are the Cazas of Monastir, Perlépé, and Florina. The in

surgents are principally men who have been "out" for some time, but their ranks are receiving constant accessions, and they appear so far to maintain a passive attitude except as regards suspected informers and any stray Turk whom they can kill for the sake of his arms. || I believe that the majority carry Gras rifles imported from Thessaly, but Martinis and Mannlichers are also used, and, now that the conveyance of arms. from Greece has become more difficult, there is a great demand for Mausers, which are usually obtained by assassination. A few days ago, for instance, two mounted soldiers who were carrying the post-bag from Kyrchevo to Perlépé fell into a nocturnal ambuscade, and, although one of the men escaped with the bag, his companion was murdered and completely stripped, his naked body being thrown into the Kara-Sou, while the assassins made off with their victim's military equipment and uniform. I am informed, moreover, by a person possessing exceptional opportunities for knowing the circumstances, that the importation of arms from abroad has by no means ceased entirely, for considerable quantities of rifles and ammunition arrived at Durazzo, where the Customs officials are said to be in the Committee's pay, and thence they are conveyed by Elbassan to Okhrida without any apparent misgiving on the part of the Turkish authorities. The conspicuous failure of the Government either to inflict any serious damage on the various bands or to hamper their movements cannot but diminish the prestige of the authorities in the eyes of the population, both Christian and Mussulman, and, according to all I learn, Sarafoff and the other insurgent leaders are not only proclaiming a general insurrection as imminent, but are actively training their men in campaigning operations, and have ordered the inspection and registration of all the available means of transport. On the 19th, 20th, and 21st instant, Sarafoff and Chakalaroff presided over an assemblage of all the Notables of the villages in the vicinity of Gherman on the shores of Lake Presba, and found leisure to keep Easter with the usual festivities, and also to deliver a series of addresses on the approaching movement, the date of which has, however, not yet been fixed. The authorities were informed in the course of time, and bodies of troops were sent in pursuit from Monastir and Florina; but, as the insurgent position was surrounded by outposts at eight hours' distance in every direction, it is not surprising that when the troops arrived Sarafoff and his followers had disappeared. || At the same time another band had been located at Tsapari, about three hours from Monastir at the foot of Mount Peristeri, and a detachment of troops was immediately dispatched thither. Here again the Turks were nonplussed, for the insurgents retired into