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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 6

William of Wied undertook a bigger contract than lie anticipated when he went to Albania to occupy the throne of that troubled little State. His kingship has proA'ed no bed of roses, but it is probable that the German prineelet was not altogether surprised when he diseoA-ered the thorns. The mountain kingdom presents a problem that would tax the resources of a more experienced ruler than the new monarch has shown himself to be. His subjects, lawful and lawless, are a jumble of nationalities and creeds, deA'oted to fierce retributive conflicts, and so far incapable of understanding that their disunion is Albania's weakness. The cable message to-day reports further rebel successes. What can. William of Wied hope to do now that the tide has set against him? In the beginning the intriguing Essad- Pasha, who was at first diplomatically respectful to the imported monarch, and only showed his hand when circumstances favoured him, was a source of peculiarly irritating trouble. Essad has had the advantage over the German of being more one of the Albanians themselves. He is essentially of the militant type, forceful and belligerent, -and as such he found the greater favour with the people. William of Wied made the initial mistake of being too easily accessible to his subjects. This method would doubtless work well in a less primitive community, but the Albanian mountaineers interpreted it as a sign o? weakness. It was said that a petitioner might enter the king's presence practically unheralded, but that an audience with ISssad Pasha was a difficult matter. The harassed monarch is too much of an alien, he is too constitutional, too "nice" for such a collection of rugged nationality "s. Theso ungovernable fellows haA'e some respect for the ruler whose methods are violently repressive, but little for him who would essay to be a gentlemanly king. The type of monarch Albania would most appreciate Avould be built on the lines of Francisco Villa, the Mexican guerrilla leader—someone with temper, and a tendency to strike hard when threatened. It looks as though the representative of Wied can never hope to gain peace either for himself or for his restless little kingdom.