MAHOMED THE FIFTH.
THE NEW MONARCH.
CHEERED BY THE POPULACE
(Received April 28, 11.7 p.m.)
Constantinople, April 28.
A second deputation visited Mehemmed Reshad at Dolmahagsche Palace, whereupon, accompanied by Ghazi Mukhtar, a veteran of the Russian war, and a guard of pictur-esquely-garbed Albanians, Mehemmed Reshad proceeded to the War Office, where Sherkot Pasha and Ahmed Riza (the Young Turk leaders) and the Sheik-ul-Islam received him.
After taking the oath to remain faithful to the Constitution, he assumed the title of Mahomed V.
The Deputies and Senators kissed his hands and drove the new Sultan back to Dolmahagsche Palace. The populace and soldiery heartily welcomed the new monarch, who will bo invested with 'the Sword of Osman forty days hence.
The Deputies later decided that Abdul Hamid should not be allowed to travel outside Constantinople. Ho will be taken to Tschiraghan Palace, on the shore of the Bosphorus.
It is presumed that the accusation of tampering, with holy writings refers to an incident 10 years ago, when Abdul Hamid destroyed some documents containing quotations from the Koran referring to the possible deposition of the Sultan. (Received April 28, 11.40 p.m.) London, April 28. The Times says that despite his virtual imprisonment for 33 years Mahomed V. is a quiet, scholarly man, but with no great strength of character or intellect. The rumours that he is a debauched, semi-idiotic voluptuary are universally discredited. He is reputed to cherish warm sympathy for Britain.
Abdul Hamid IT., the deposed Sultan, was born on September 2?., 1342, and is the second son of Sultan Abdul Mcjid. He sueneeded to the throne on the deposition of his elder brother, Sultan Munid V., on August 31, 1876. Ho is the 34th; in male descent, of the House of Othman, the founder of. the Empire, and was the 28th Sultan since the conquest of Constantinople. By the law of succession obeyed in the reigning family, the crown is inherited according to seniority by the male descendants of Othman, sprung from the Imperial harem. The harem is considered a permanent. State institution. All children born in the harem, whether offspring of free women or of slaves, are legitimate, and of equal lineage. The Hn'tnn is succeeded by his eldest son, but only in ease there are no uncles or cousins of greater age. Mehemmed-Reshad Effendi, brother of Abdul Hamid, in whose favour he abdicates, was born on November 3, 1844, pnd is the legitimate heir to the throne for the reasons stated. Mekenmicd-Reshad only recovered his freedom lust, August, after having been imprisoned, or rather kept in captivity, ,for 30 years. Despite his long confinement, he is said to be nhysically and mentally alert, a tendency to diabetes having been overcome by a severe regimen. Morally, he is the opnosite to his brother, and though secluded from the world for so long he has been kept informed of the progress of events. He favours the Young Turkey party, and has expressed his determination when he comes to the throne to give all races in the Empire a regime of justice and constitutional liberty, ensuring their material and moral wellbeing.
MAHOMED THE FIFTH.
New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14047, 29 April 1909, Page 5
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