At the end of 1904, the Turkish Ambassador in London told Lord Lansdowne that it was well-known that “bands” formed in Greece were carrying out attacks in some Turkish provinces in Europe. The Greek government tried to claim these “bands” were just taking revenge for wrongs committed by Bulgarians against Greeks. Despite reassuring Turkey, the Greek government was unable to stop these attacks. Meanwhile, a Macedonian Committee was established in Greece, openly calling for revolution and forming new “bands” to make the movement stronger. The Turkish troops often clashed with Greek “bands,” and the Bulgarian “bands” responded violently against the Greeks Bulgarian Resistance and Casualties.
At Vladovo, three Greek Patriarchists were killed by Bulgarians because they refused to stop paying a tax on wood and continued to bring wood into the town. A few days later, another Bulgarian “band,” angry over their losses in a fight with a Greek “band,” entered the village of Girchista and killed the Greek schoolmistress and six others.
These stories are not just rumors. They were reported by British Consuls to the British Foreign Office.
Monastir A Violent and Divided Region
Monastir, the capital of the Monastir vilayet, is located in the middle of Macedonia, halfway between Bulgarian and Greek territories. The north is mainly Bulgarian, while the south is mostly Greek. The villages here mix and overlap in the Monastir region. The reason we hear so much about violence in Monastir is not because the Turks there are worse than in other areas, but because of the ongoing feud between Greek and Bulgarian political and religious groups Istanbul Day Tour.
Monastir’s Peaceful Surface, Violent Underneath
A slow train runs daily from Salonika to Monastir, passing through beautiful, picturesque countryside. Each station is charming, with flower gardens and station houses covered in colorful plants. People buy fruit from vendors, and boys sell chilled water in jars. There are Turks, Greeks, and Bulgarians, all greeting friends and seeing them off, creating a peaceful country atmosphere.
However, this is still the violent, cut-throat part of Europe!
