Scutari's Fall Alarms Europe.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 24, 1913:
Montenegrin Triumph After Six Months' Siege Raises Grave International Difficulties.
AUSTRIA WANTS COERCION
Threatens to Act Individually if the Powers Refuse to Land a Joint Force.
PERIL IN SLAV SENTIMENT
Russia May Not Be Able to Check It if Harsh Measures Against Montenegro Are Taken.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Thursday, April 24.— Now that Scutari has fallen and the powers' naval demonstration has proved ineffectual in checking King Nicholas's ambition, the question is being asked, What step will the powers now take to make their decision respected?
    Fear is expressed that the fall of Scutari will upset the settlement which the powers so laboriously reached, and will bring the prospect of European complications again to the front, but among diplomatists, including competent judges, the opinion is held that Montenegro's victory, by strengthening King Nicholas's position among his people, will actually make it easier for him to abandon his claim to Scutari and to accept the terms of compensation proffered by the powers.
    Another opinion, perhaps most common, is that the event changes nothing in the situation, at any rate as far as the policy of the powers is concerned. They agreed that upon the conclusion of peace Scutari should be incorporated in an autonomous Albania, still adhere to that view, and possess sufficient means to exert pressure without any need of recourse to violent or hasty action.

Mr. Asquith Hopeful.
    The subject was discussed, but without any definite result, at the meeting of the Ambassadors yesterday afternoon to consider the reply of the allies to the powers' proposals for peace. Premier Asquith afterward referred to the question in a way which implied that he, at any rate, had little fear of international complications. Speaking at a banquet of the Foreign Press Association he declared that all the powers were working in unison, and said he had no doubt that, "rather sooner than later," an honorable and peaceful settlement would be reached.
    Opposed to this favorable outlook is the opinion held by some that the Montenegrins, now that they are in possession of Scutari, will not leave it unless they are expelled by force, and that if Europe will not use force Austria will be compelled to do so.
    This would be likely to endanger European peace.
    The Daily Mail's Vienna correspondent says:
    "Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, to-night (Wednesday) addressed a note to the powers asking them to take measures to force Montenegro to evacuate Scutari within forty-eight- hours. It is considered that the Montenegrins will not abandon it now except in return for territory already awarded by the powers to the future State of Albania. This Austria will not allow.
    "Feeling is very strong here that the crisis must be terminated, and that if the powers cannot enforce their will on Montenegro they must give Austria a mandate to do so."
    Dr. Dillon, in a dispatch from Vienna to The Daily Telegraph, points out that Austria has already unsuccessfully tried to induce the other powers to join in the disembarkation of bluejackets at Antivari and Dulcigno in order to put pressure on King Nicholas. He adds:
    "The Dual Monarchy believes that the work of compelling Montenegro to evacuate Albanian territory can be done without bloodshed by an expeditionary force of 40,000, and that task she is prepared to undertake."

Russia's Position Vital.
    Much depends upon the attitude which Russia adopts in connection with the new situation — whether she continues to work in harmony with the other powers, or is compelled to alter her policy, owing to the outburst of Pan-Slavist enthusiasm in St. Petersburg.
    Dispatches describe the scenes of rejoicing with which the Montenegrin victory was received in the Russian capital. A "Te Deum" service was held in the Preobrazhensky Church in celebration of the event. Afterward a crowd of some thousands paraded the Nevsky Prospect, singing patriotic songs. It was ultimately dispersed by the police.
    The Times's St. Petersburg correspondents however, says that, while the triumph of the Slav arms finds a responsive echo in every Russian heart, the course to which Russian policy is committed will not permit the Government in any way to linger indefinitely over the reflections thus excited. It is recognized that a new situation has been created, with which it is necessary to deal firmly and in unbroken concert with the other powers.

Final Desperate Attack.
    CETTINJE, April 23.— After a final desperate attack, lasting incessantly for almost twenty-four hours, during which they brought all their forces to bear to overcome the heroic Turkish resistance, the Montenegrin troops early this morning forced their way into the fortress of Scutari, which for just over six months, since the middle of last October, had offered such a stubborn defense. The Turks then capitulated. Their ammunition — was almost exhausted.
    Under the final conditions providing for the surrender the soldiers of the Turkish garrison were permitted to march out of the city with their small arms, retaining also some light guns.
    The assault that gave the Montenegrins possession or the city, which has been the sole object of their war against Turkey, began on Monday night.
    The Ottoman solders made a number of counter-attacks and tried with their utmost energy to drive the attacking forces out of their works, but they were finally compelled to fall back and leave their positions in the hands of the besiegers, who received constant reinforcements.
    Although the Servian troops did not participate in the final attack, their artillery was used by the Montenegrin gunners, and it is said that to this fact the latter's success was largely due.
    The act of capitulation was signed by the Turkish commander shortly after the Montenegrin troops had reached the middle of the city.
    The first tidings of the fall of Scutari were received at 2 o'clock in the morning in a telegram from the Crown Prince to the King. The populace were immediately apprised of the glad news by the firing of salvos of artillery, and the ringing of church bells. Tumbling out of bed, the people assembled at the Palace, cheering enthusiastically.
    From the balcony King Nicholas addressed his people, and in full view of the crowds embraced the representatives of the allies, who had called to congratulate him.

    BELGRADE, April 23.— Not even the Servian victories during the war caused anything like the scones of enthusiasm which were witnessed here to-day over the taking of Scutari by Montenegro.
    Business was at a standstill while the whole population gave themselves over to rejoicing. Lawyers, merchants, soldiers, and workmen danced in the streets to the strains of music. Wine may almost be said to have been flowing in the gutters, for everywhere barrels were broached and all were free to drink to the victory of the Montenegrins and the glory of "Greater Servia."

Anxiety in St. Petersburg.
    ST. PETERSBURG, April 23.— The capture of Scutari has caused great anxiety and activity in diplomatic circles here. Foreign Minister Sazonoff was busy all day conferring with Ambassadors and exchanging telegrams with the European chancellories.
    It is understood that Russian diplomacy prefers to leave the initiative to France and Great Britain, and it is believed that neither will countenance any form of coercion with respect to Montenegro. Russia herself cannot do so without straining to the breaking point the patience of her Slavophile ruling classes.

Austria Wants Coercion Used.
    VIENNA, April 23.— The semi-official Fremdenblatt asserts that the Austro-Hungarian Government has submitted concrete proposals to the powers for the application of drastic measures to compel the Montenegrins to evacuate Scutari without delay.

    BERLIN, April 23.— The fall of Scutari has caused the gravest anxiety in political circles here, which fear that it will ultimately involve the peace of Europe.
    It is semi-officially announced to-day that the capture of the Turkish fortress cannot in the slightest degree alter the decision of the European powers to incorporate Scutari in the future State of Albania. There is, however, little expectation here either that the Montenegrins will withdraw peacefully from Scutari or that the unity of the powers will stand the test of an attempt to oust Montenegro forcibly either by means of an international expedition or by Austria and Italy acting as the mandatories of Europe.

Grave View In Rome.
    ROME, April 23.— The belief is held in Rome that the success of the Montenegrins at Scutari has complicated the international situation, as it is thought that Montenegro will certainly refuse to evacuate the city, which will make coercive measures by the powers more difficult than they were when they only aimed at forcing Montenegro to abandon the siege.
    The Montenegrin Minister here, M. Popovitch, declared to-day that King Nicholas would not renounce Scutari at any cost, its acquisition having been one of the strongest of Montenegro's aspirations for six centuries.

Powers' Blockade Extended.
    LONDON, Thursday, April 24.— The news of the fall of Scutari has been received with extraordinary demonstrations of joy in all the Allies' capitals, notably Belgrade, and the Bulgarian Premier has sent effusive congratulations to the Montenegrin Premier.
    The first effect of the fall of the fortress has been the extension of the international naval blockade to Durazzo, but what will be the next step of the Powers in facing the new situation it is difficult to foretell. According to the view prevailing in St. Petersburg, the coercion of Montenegro would not be an easy matter.
    Austria-Hungary has already made definite proposals to the Powers with a view to compelling Montenegro to evacuate Scutari, but it is not certain that such proposals will be welcomed.
    The press or the whole of Europe recognizes that the situation is extremely serious.

Scutari's Long Defense.
    The long defense of Scutari under Essad Pasha was made by an army estimated at about 10,000 men, who also had to guard the outlying stronghold of Tarabosch and other connecting works surrounding the city. This they did so well that the Montenegrins, even when they were aided by the Servians, could not make any impression until a few weeks ago, when the Servians brought up a large number of heavy siege guns, which soon reduced the fire of the Turkish artillery.
    The Montenegrins are said to have lost no fewer than 3,000 killed, and the Turks 5,000 killed during the siege of the city.

Armistice Extended to May 5.
    CONSTANTINOPLE, April 23.— The armistice between the Turks and the Bulgarians, which expired this evening, has been extended to noon on May 5.