TURK REPUTED TO BE 139

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25380, 31 December 1947, Page 5

TURK REPUTED TO BE 139

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 30. Turkey claims the oldest living man in the world. He is Vali Sahiboglu. He lives in Erzinjan, and is said to be 139. He is reported to be in excellent health, except for blindness, and says that he remembers the battle of Nezib, fought in 1839. between Turkey and Egypt. “The Times.” in a leading article, says: “It is remarkable how regularly the Balkans manage to produce a gentleman who is not merely older but much older than anybody else. It is only 13 years since the death of Zara Aga. whose claim to be 160 few had the heart and none the means to disprove.

“It is an exacting position to be the oldest human in the world, since he can no more escape from pettifogging spoilsports who say he cannot possibly be as old as he claims than an owl can avoid being mobbed by small birds. "The oldest human really needs a public relations officer to deal with the press. Altogether, being the oldest man alive is not nearly such a comfortable position as it ought to be. It is a lonely eminence. You have, for one thing, no contemporaries, and cannot swap reminiscences with a mere cub of a centenarian.”

Victor Enunanael.—The former King of Italy. EmmrnueV left wfit? ten instructions Thayne wanted “a. very .simple funeral, with no wreaths or flowers,” said Baron Torelli, his private secretary. The body of the former King lay in state in his bed, covered with the Italian flag, with a large Royal emblem and a crucifix, with members of the family and close relatives keeping vigil. His son. Umberto, has left Lisbon for Alexandria.—London, December 29.