RULER OF IRAQ DEAD

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22678, 5 April 1939, Page 11

RULER OF IRAQ DEAD

* KING GHAZI KILLED IN ACCIDENT CAR STRIKES ELECTRIC PYLON ' (UNITED PKESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) , (Received April 5, 1.10 a.m.) ;

LONDON. April 4. !

The Bagdad correspondent of the Havas News Agency reports that King Ghazi of Iraq ■ was killed in a motor accident.

He struck an electric pylon ; at ~ midnight while driving his own car at a high speed.

The Emir Feisal, aged three, im j heir to the throne. ;

King Ghazi of - lihq was born in, Mecca in March, 1912.. He caote. Of a ruling Arab' family, the Sheresians,who had long held sway in the Holy Cities and other parts of Arabia.' His father, Feisal, was for a time King of Syria, but in 1920 was dethroned by the French under their mandate, for the country, Within a year Feisal .was made King of Iraq by the British. ■ Ghazi’s education was on the traditional Arab system, including periods of living with Bedouin in the desert, and instruction in Moslem literature - and religion: but he also had Eiglish tutors and governesses, under the _ supervision of Gertrude Bell, the famous friend- and adviser of the Arabs, In 1923 his father .sent him to Harrow School in England, and he spent nearly - three years there, ■He had a preference, for mechanical rather, -than academic subjects. Long before he was. old enough to hold,a motor-car licence he knew the construction -of various; types of cars; and v was an excellent - driver; Being debarred from the owing to lack of a licence, he >■ used to drive at Brooklands, being probably the youngest motorist who ever went round the famous track. On returning to’lraq he - went through a course Of training' at-. the' -Bagdad Military School. ■ ■ - In' September. 1933. his father died, suddenly on a visit 1 to Switzerland. Ghazi was proclaimed. King - 'within afew hours of the news reaching Bagdad. Feisal, who had married- a- cousin in order to maintain ’ the • family: tradition of keeping the ruling l authority to the blood of the'Sheresians, had-, urged his son to do’ the same;’ ■ "V Obediently, within a' fortnight of his accession, Ghazi announced his' engagement to' his cousin,- Princess* - All*, yah, ■ daughter of, his; uncle, former King Ali of the Hedjar. The, betrothal took place in accordance, with custom in the absence of the -princess.' byt <was a legal‘ Ceremony equivalent to "marriage. ■ She and the' King: were, not to meet, ■ however, until * some months later, when she was to be pro : claimed. Queen. . . . ~”