New Atrocities Told Of Servians.

New York Times 100 years ago today, January 19, 1913:
Inhabitants of Prisrend and Neighborhood Starving After Destruction of Food and Homes.
SLAUGHTER IN MACEDONIA
Turkish Officer Relates How His Soldiers Slew Without Mercy and the Bulgars Did the Same.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Jan. I8.— M. Grouitch, the Servian Minister to Great Britain, whose wife is an American, gives categorical denial to the many stories of Servian massacres of Albanians.
    "Our Government," said M. Grouitch to The New York Times correspondent, "has already stated in most positive terms that there are no grounds for the reports published, chiefly in the Austrian papers. I can only repeat and emphasize that denial. The reports have been thoroughly investigated and are entirely unsubstantiated by facts."
    Notwithstanding the official denials, reports of atrocities continue to reach London. Not only Servians but Bulgarians are accused of wholesale massacres and destruction of Moslem towns and villages, while the Turks also are said to have indulged in similar treatment of Christians, though not to such a large extent, owing to their fewer opportunities.
    What is regarded as independent testimony to the truth of some statements received from sources suspected of partiality was cited by the Lord Mayor of London at a Mansion House meeting held Wednesday in connection with the Balkan Relief Fund. The Lord Mayor said that a telegram had been received from the British Vice Consul at Monastir stating that assistance was urgently needed in that town, where there were 10,000 destitute Moslems, of whom 6,000 were refugees from destroyed villages.
    Sir Edward Grey is accused by the Turcophile Outlook of suppressing reports of Bulgarian and Servian atrocities upon the Moslem populations of Thrace and Macedonia.
    "Sir Edward admitted in reply to a question in Parliament," says the Outlook, "that he had received reports confirming the massacres and that they were being brought unofficially to the notice of the Bulgarian and Servian Governments. Having satisfied himself as to the authority for these reports, Sir Edward should surely publish them in the interest of fair play and common humanity." Edith Durham's recent assertions as to the deliberate design of the Servians to extirpate the Albanians are naturally received with skepticism, but it is impossible to disregard the fact that reports from widely different sources indicate that the Balkan war has well deserved the application of Sherman's phrase.
    Albanian opposition to Servia is being shown in various ways. A message from Uskub to a Belgrade paper stated that 6,000 Albanians had assembled at Elbassan and proclaimed war against Servia. The publication of such a statement in a Servían paper is regarded in some quarters as clear proof that the Servian methods in Albania have been of such a character that the Albanians will fight to the death rather than submit to Servian domination.
    Vienna papers continue to print horrifying reports of alleged Servian atrocities. According to these sources of information the Servian Army, which on its march through the Djuma Valley was fiercely opposed by the Albanians, destroyed everything necessary to the life of the inhabitants as a punishment. The Serbs promised the Albanians mercy if they would give up their weapons. The unsuspecting population complied, and after disarming them the Serbs began to massacre the Albanians, not merely men, but helpless women and children. Mothers threw, their children into the River Drin in order not to be forced to witness their horrible deaths.
    The population now feels the consequences of the terrible devastation. Houses, food and clothes are burned up, and now the Winter has come and the unfortunate people endure shocking privations, which are shared by the Servian soldiers themselves, who are without proper accommodation to protect them from the severe cold. They also suffer from lack of food, which must be transported from the interior of Servia. Starvation reigns at Prisrend and neighborhood.
    In regard to the atrocities committed by both Turks and Bulgarians in Macedonia a letter received in London from a reliable correspondent says:
    "A trustworthy Turkish officer who came south with the Turkish Army, which was driven forward by the Bulgarians from the northeast of Salonika to that city, makes no secret of the fact that Christians were everywhere killed in its passage, their houses burned, and women attacked. He says that he and his fellow-officers tried their best to restrain the soldiers, but were powerless. Then he adds:
    " 'The Bulgarians followed close after us and retaliated, the irregulars who had joined them slaughtering the Turks in every case. Quarter was neither asked nor given. The Turks in their flight left behind them hundreds of wounded, and still more wearied men, who were incapable of keeping up with the army. All were killed. "The Turkish officer added:
    " 'Naturally they avenged the slaughter of their fellow-countrymen, but it was our troops who had got out of hand, and that is the whole explanation of the stories of massacres in that part of the country. As we neared Salonika both parties had become roused to a frenzy, and we could do nothing to arrest the slaughter on both sides. We officers did our best, but were powerless.' "

BELIEVES ATROCITY STORIES.
Dr. Herrick, Long-Time Missionary, Gives Serbs a Bad Name.
    That the stories of the massacre of Moslems by Serbs are well based is not doubted by the Rev. Dr. G. F. Herrick of this city, who for nearly fifty-five years was a missionary to Turkey, and is now living at 138 West 104th Street.
    "We have had reports from the same correspondent before of Atrocities committed on the Moslems," he said in an interview, "and while it is most deplorable, there is little doubt in the light of past history but that it is true. I only know the Servians second hand, but they have a very sinister reputation.
    "It is true that pretty serious conduct had been charged to the Bulgarians and Greeks at the time of their entrance into Salonika, when they treated Moslem refugees so cruelly, but so far as any other knowledge goes I have none.
    "It is certainly to be hoped that the published statements are greatly exaggerated. If it be true, the explanation undoubtedly lies in the fact that it is Servia's evident determination to lessen the numbers of Moslems in Eastern Turkey, and if they can't drive them out, to put them out of life.
    "It may mean a renewal of hostilities. The Turks are probably prepared to renew war if they must. The Turks don't want to; the Bulgarians don't, but the Turks have been doing their best to hold on with the greatest tenacity to Adrianople, their ancient capital. It would have been a great surprise to all who know the Turks, their Country, and their history, if they had not held on.
    "The Turks complain — it seems to me justly — of the attitude taken by the powers in supporting the allies in their demand of Adrianople. The powers have been partial to the allies, it seems to me.
    "As to the condition of Turkey, the present Cabinet has up to this time been able to hold its position and preserve perfect order except in the remoter eastern provinces. The present Grand Vizier is a fine man, and so long as he remains in power (he is now a man of 84 years), and has the support of his colleagues and the aid of the army, we may look hopefully to the immediate future."