ti published a
learned article on the Ipek episcopate. The Porte regarded with
dread the increasing power of the Bulgars. So did the Greek
Patriarch at Constantinople. He of 1766 had aimed at the destruction
of Slavdom. He of 1902 thought Serbia far less dangerous than
Bulgaria. Firmilian was duly consecrated in June, 1902--a small
straw showing that Russia had begun to blow Serbwards. She began to
see she could not afford to have a powerful Bulgaria between herself
and Constantinople.

At Cetinje I gathered that my jpurney to Ipek was mysteriously
connected with "something" that was going to happen, and was
interested to find that though the populace still heartily approved
of the murder of Alexander and were filled with anger and dismay at
England's rupture of diplomatic relations, the mighty of the land
had realized that in public at any rate, it was as well to moderate
their transports. King Nikola had been interviewed by several
British and other journalists, had looked down his nose, lamented
the wickedness of the Serbs and assured his interviewers that the
Montenegrins were a far more virtuous people. Montenegro posed as
the good boy of the Serb race, and as the gentlemen in question had
not been present either at the thanksgiving in the church nor the
gala performance at the Zetski Dom, they accepted the statement.
Interviewing is, in fact, as yet the most efficient method by which
journalism can spread erroneous reports.

I returned to London and read shortly afterwards in The Times that
Macedonian troubles had settled down and recollecting that at Ipek I
had learnt they had not yet begun I wrote and told The Times so. But
it was far too well informed to print this statement. Had it not
withdrawn its correspondent? And, as Rizoff had told me, a general
Bulgar rising broke out all through Macedonia in August.

CHAPTER EIGHT

MACEDONIA, 1903-1904

THE Macedonian rising of 1903 was a purely Bulgar movement. As is
invariably the case with such risings, it was ill-planned; and
untrained peasants and irregular forces never in the long run have a
chance against regulars. Its history has been told more than once in
detail. I need only say that, instead of revolting simultaneously,
one village rose after another, and the Turkish forces rode round,
burning and pillaging in the usual fashion of punitive expeditions.
Thousands of refugees fled into Bulgaria--thus emphasizing their
nationality--and within the B