11 MAY 1912, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

FR1DAY'S news from the Near East is distinctly alarming. 1 Telegrams from the correspondents of the Times in Constantinople, Athens, and Vienna all point to a sudden

increase of the unrest in Albania. There was a collision between Mirdite tribesmen and Turkish troops on Tuesday

which is said to have led to a loss of 100 men to the Turks. Iniiurgents in other parts of Albania are said to be active, and are making demands to the Turkish authorities which are not likely to be granted. These authorities are said to be confident of their power to suppress the rebellion, but the Athens -correspondent of the Times tells us that this conviction is not shared by well-informed local observers. It can hardly be' doubted that when the seizure of Rhodes and Italy's activity in general in the 2Egean becomes known in Macedonia and Albania, the news will have an encouraging effect upon the insurgents. We may add that an attempt, which happily rraved abortive, was made to destroy the Turkish Commission - which has been travelling, in Albania. Dynamite was placed under the arch of a viaduct which the Commission was to have crossed, but the plot was betrayed to the authorities in time to prevent a disaster.