The news from the Balkans has become a little clearer.
In Macedonia small bands of insurgents are taking up arms, attacking Turkish stations, and when defeated, which is the usual result, retreating as refugees into Bulgaria; but the centre of interest has been transferred. The Albanians have rejected all the Sultan's offers, and have hemmed in the great officials who brought them in the town of Ipek, where they will be kept as hostages. The Russian, Austrian, and Italian Ambassadors in Constantinople have accordingly demanded audiences of the Sultan, and have informed him that Albania must be reduced to order by military force under penalty of the Powers sanctioning a military occupation. The Sultan has yielded, and a very large force, perhaps seventy-five thousand men, will shortly be on its way to Skutari, the Albanian capital. It is nearly certain that the mountaineers will resist, and possible that the Turkish Regulars may not prove their superiors in guerilla warfare. They have seldom beaten the Albanians in fair battle. We have endeavoured elsewhere to explain the probable consequences of the collision, but may mention here that the Albanians are everywhere in Turkey, and that even in Constantinople they may be able to make a dangerous commotion. The most careful precautions, however, are being taken for the Sultan's safety ; and as the Regulars do not like the mountaineers, it is probable that the precautions will be successful. The Russian Government has called out the fleet in the Black Sea, and is accumulating troops at Odessa. Altogether, the situation is growing electric, though all concerned, except the Macedonians, would prefer a longer period of peace.
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