PRACTICAL MAN OF AFFAIRS ENTHRONED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 15

PRACTICAL MAN OF AFFAIRS ENTHRONED.

ACCESSION NOT DUE TO CONQUEST OR BIRTH. (Special to the “ Star.”) TIRANA, October 3. Ahmed Zogu, former Prime Minister and President of Albania, who will be proclaimed to-day at Tirana as King Scanderberg 111., is a man who has won his way to a throne. He does not owe his accession to right of birth. He has used neither sword nor cannon to establish his right to the crown. By sheer force of personality, intellectual power, and political wisdom he has proved to his people that he possesses the qualities of kingship. Descended from an old-established family, Ahmed Zogu is by lineage and upbringing a practical man of affairs, blessed with the knack of choosing the right way of getting things done. Bloodshedding is not one of his methods. He is 35 years of age, good-looking, of fine figure, clean build, and erect carriage. On state occasions he is the very image of a Ruritanian prince, clad in white Hussar uniform, with high white plume, white gloves, and even white jack boots. When the rival Albanian factions met in conference early in 1920 a Government was appointed with Ahmed Zogu as Minister of the Interior. In 1924 the Nationalist Party, with the Bishop Fan Noli at its head, attacked Tirana and Ahmed Zogu had to flee for his life. Back again within six

months, he was made President, and today is King. Ahmed Zogu speaks only German and Albanian, is keen to attract the English tourist, and speaks often of the improvements he intends to carry out, for he plans to turn Albania into another of Europe’s playgrounds. Ahmed Zogu is a man of most regular habits, a good rider, bold and fearless, as all Albanians are, a good shot with rifle or revolver, and a man with a decided personality. He takes a personal interest in everything connected with his country, and when he asked an English visitor for his opinion of Albanian hotels and roads said he was going round to inspect them, so as to provide amenities for all who travel in Albania.