Assassination

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 13 June 1913, Page 5

Assassination

SHEFKET PASHA SHOT. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. NAZIM PASHA'S MURDER AVENGED. By Cable I—Press 1 —Press Association l —Copyright. ■ . London, June 11. Rcuter reported ; the assassination of Shevket-Pasha, and the news has beea confirmed. ■ Constantinople, June 11. Shevket was proceeding to the Porte (the Foreign Office) in a motorcar, when two men in another motor approached from the opposite direction, and shot Shevket with a revolver. He died immediately. : Ibrahim Bey, one of Shevket'a aides-de-camp, was also killed. [Shevket Pasna was Premier and Minister of War. He was one of the most notable generals possessed by Ue Turks. His death, following so quickly on that of Nozim Pasha, will seriously weaken the Turkish military policy, besides offering little encouragement to Ministers to take office.] =>

It is officially .stated that Shevket Pasha was leaving the Ministry of War and had reached Beyagid in the Divangular Square when his car was compelled to stop on the road for repairs. .Unknown persons from another car fired ten shots, mortally wounding Shevket and .Ibrahim. They were taken to the . Ministry of War and Shevket died within halfin-hoiu-.; Three arrests have been made. Martial, law ,has been proclaimed. Said Pashii been appointed Grand Vizier.

RIDDLED WITH BULLETS. ' THE ARMY UNAFFECTED. t A PROFOUND IMPRESSION. Received 12, 10.55 p.m. Constantinople, June 12. . The outrage has caused a profound impression. Since Nazim- P.asha's death, Shefket Pasha, has' been virtually under sentence of death. After the first few days he dispensed with a guard. He frequently drove in an open carriage unattended* or with a single aide-de-camp. Sometimes he alighted at the door of the Cafe Stamboul, where his enemies- were reported to congregate. Yesterday he was going to the Porte with hjs aides, Echref Bey and Ibrahim Bey. The car stopped near a motor car containing, fpur persons drawn up by the roadside. . Two men stood up with revolvers in each hand. Shefket and Ibrahim were struck by the first shots. Shefket's body-servant and the driver jumped from the box too late to prevent three men boarding the car, smashing the windows and firing ten shots. Shefket was hit five times. Echref escaped by a • miracle. He drew a revolver, but it missed fire.- He seized Shefket's revolver from the pocket of his dolman, but it also was out <o£ order. Finally the assassins drove off, except a lame inkeeper .named Topal Tewfik, who was too late to board the car, and was arrested while throwing tlifi revolvers into a drain. When Shefket's car reached the Ministry of War, Ibrahim was dead and Shefket dying. Constantinople, Later. Echref Bey states that as they left the square, he heard an explosion, and thought a' tyre had burst. The next moment Shefket fell forward. "I took him in my arms," lie said, "and saw that his face was covered, with blood. The shdts continued'. I attempted to arrest the assassins • but failed. As they escaped, one of the assassins in the back of the car repeatedly fired."

Eleven arrests have been made, chiefly those of keepers of gambling dens. The news has caused the most intense e.vitemcnt in tl» cafes. \ There has been a sharp fall on the Bourse, but military precautions prevent disorder. The army in Constantinople and at Chataldja remained calm. The assassins' motor car was found in a garage in North Pcra. The relatives of the owner have been arrested on the strength of incriminating admissions. The crime was first attributed to Circassians, in revenge for Nazim Pasha's assassination on .January 23. Tt is now apparent that it was a political move against the Yo'.ing Turks* The Porte has for three weeks been aware of a plot to assassinate Sbefket Pasha and the principal Young Turks. Members of the Committee of Union and Progress declare that the Young Turks are masters of the situation. The newspapers point out that Shefket from the beginning of the Italian war anticipated the Balkans attack, and kept 150,000 soldiers beyond their term of service. Kaimil Pasha was dismissed from the force chieflv for, electioneering, purposes. Sliefket also (favoured a de-' fensive campaign Until the : reserves were concentrated at' ChaUidja, but Nazim Pasha resolved on an offensive one.