THE ALBANIAN REVOLT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 383, 7 May 1910, Page 5

THE ALBANIAN REVOLT

CONFIDENCE N TURKISH GOVJiRNWiiMT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, Constantinople, May 5. The Turkish Chamber, .by 132 to 47, patsed a. vote of confidence in the Government's action in Albania. ALBANIAN INSPIRATIONS. Comparatively little is known of the intrigue behind the present Albanian revolt, but recent reports suggest that it is a recrudescence of the plot hatched some years ago by Prince John d'Aladro Kastriotis, a Spaniard who claimed descent fnom Skanderberg, the Albanian hfro who died fighting for his country in 1468.

The Prince once spoke to. an inter viewer of Albanian and Albanian aspirations.

"Let me assure you of one thmg," ht- said. "Albania, geographically and religiously, is iii two .parts, the northern, Mussulman, and the southern, where the Christians are. The northerners, the Mussulmans, are the most ignorant, and it is upon tins ignorance that the Sultan has been trading, but Ntrth and South Albania, Mussulmans and Christians, are ready to rise and to light the Turk when once the word is given. My present difficulty is not to excite my people to make a stand for freedom and for civilication, but to restrain their leaders and to keep them back until the. right moment." ''We may yet have a civilised Albania," lie continued, "and that is to be my life's work. .Everything is ready. I have my pls:ns for railways, for postal and telegraphic services, even for my palace, which is to be built upon Lake Ohrit, in the very centre of trie country, where the capital will be if I become the reigning Prince. The country is more beautiful than words can paint. \t is the Switzerland of • ihe Balkans, and far more luxuriantly endewed by nature than Switzerland itself. A real land of milk and noney, blue skies, and—when the rougnness has worn from them and they have been taught—the people are warmhearted and hosnitable.

"A foreigner may travel for months h the Jancl and never spend a halfpenny on food or shelter, nor be robbed.. The Turks and officials are the only robbers. lam trying to teacii my people, but it is di (fruit. There are a few schools, but from time to time the teachers are thrown into gaol. We hsve printed books and alphabets, but they are burned, but in the end, and the end may not be as distant as we think, we shall nrevail.

"Not long ago I received a messenger sent to me by the Sultan. He offered to unite the vilayets of North and South Albania, and to wake me the pasha over them combined. This, I 'believe, was merely a scheme to estrange me from my 'people, and by the advice of the heads of families ot North and South Albania I refused to accept it. I cannot become a Turkish pasha. lam a descendent of Skanderberg, and prince of the Albanian people by that people's wish." "We want a free, autonomous Albania," the Prince concluded, "and we know how to get it. Once gained, we shall proceed to civilise the people, and the task will be easy, though it rnay he long."