NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 9 November 1912, Page 5

NOTES

KTAMIL PASHA

Kiamil Pasha, the new Grand Vizier, is 90 years of age. This will be his fourth "term of occupancy of the post of Prime Minister, having led two Governments under Adbul Humid, and the first after the overthrow of the autocracy of the ex-Sultan, on which occasion King Edward sent a special message of congratulation to. Sultan Mohammed V. on th* appointment. He declined the respons'ibilkie.s of leader of the Porte several ironths ago, when the .Said Cabinet resigned, preferring the office of President of the Council. It has been sa.id of him:—"Able, firm, and patriotic, with an honourable career, he is persona, graa with men of all races and creeds, and is the most popular statesman in Turkey.'' He has always been the steadfast friend of the English, and .has many friends in that country. Under the Despotism, when exiles died quickly, he heard of a plot to take his life. He took refuge 'in the British Consulate, and Sir Edward Grey conmanded that British protection should 'be extended to the Pasha, who. as a native of Cyprus, was technically entitled to claim, 'it. Ghazi Mukhtar Pasha assumed the office of Grand Vizier at a critical period in Turkey's history, and retires at an even graver hour. It is no secret .that he did not seek the high, office, accepting it only in obedience to the personal command of the Sultan. In the RussoTiu'krish war he won laurels rather more for conspicuous courage than for scientific military knowledge,, .and was 2io,noured, like the great defender of "Plevna, Q'sma.n Pasha, with the title of Ghazi, which ireans victorious. A grandson of the retiring Grand Vizier was amongst the prisoners taken at Kirk Kilisc.

ALBANIAN LEADER'S SURRENDER

Bolatinaz, the Albanian leader who has surrendered 16 the Servians, is a remarkable figure. A correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" recently wrote of him : —"Of all the Albanian leaders who, during the last two years, have given trouble to the Ottoman Government, Issa Bolatinaz. or. as his tribesmen call him, Bolatine, is undoubtedly .the mostremarkable; figure. Bolatine combines the characteristics of a- bandit, revolutionary, and patriot. It is chiefly due to hie initiative that the Albanians decided to march to Salonica. Bolatine is illiterate. He can hardly sign his name, and printed matter is to nim a puzzle Yet so great is his. influence, and so formidable his rep.utation, that neither Turkish officials nor officers of'the army dare touch him. At one time a big price was offered for his head, but no one ventured to pursue him, or even to indicate his whereabouts. The Albanians hold, him ini high esteem, verging on veneration. He is a man of about 50 years—tall, somewhat bent, and gaunt in " appearance. He is able to. bear hunger and thirst for days without losing'his elasticity and. perseverance. He knows to perfection all the secret recesses and defiles of mountaino.ua Albania, and the Ottoman authorities have long recognised the fact that, it would be a hopeless task to search for him there."