AN ALBANIAN EXILE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10678, 26 July 1912, Page 5

AN ALBANIAN EXILE

Prime Gustav Diknui, 8.A., MT>., of Albania, philosopher, a. .!ar, soldier, and patriot, has been a leader of hie people against Turkish : ■•h. He commanded a .force of J ",000 ag;.inst the enemy in the revoluu I-. -•. of 1910. Being exiled, he went to Amo.-ica, and ig now touring New /aland. He'is to lecture in Knox Hall, EVlasterton, 'at eight o'clock tinight on Mahommedanism and why he Wft it for Christianity. : lu Prince bears the highest credential, and lib story should! be of piv ; <••-.. id' 1 interest at the present time, when Albania is in -active revolt against rakish rule. SKETCH OF HIS CAREER. iVinre G\itst«v is the only surviving sort of Emir Dikran, once King of Albania. He 1 was converted to Christknity by Presbyterian Mission ar;-* in Turkey in 1892. It i© the intention of the Prince to'stay two years ir. Kew Zejikuul, to become -a British subject, to graduate ais a" medical studvr.t hi. Bunediiv, and to .return to his native land as a- medical missionary. At his lecture this evening lie will talk about Alb.mia and Turkey, the -.•■■,r in Tniopili, and the ways and custons of bis people. Prince Dikrau -3 leader of the Albanian Revolution .against Turkey in 1909-10. He v-\...-.-;;-iled, and his property confiscated by the Turkish Government. Pi-.- •. 1 under his command a force of 4.7,000 cokliers, and received two woir ■» hi tfhe .fierce battle of Avkowdra. x'wo [brothers .were killed in, this revoV.r i and a sister committed suicide rather than become a prisoner of the ';.':: ■\.s. The Prince managed to save one sister and his mother, ,wlio are now .' ng in 'Egypt. He ,s.iys the cruelty of the Turks is beyond ,tho in.•: ~ ...-i----tion of the Western people. The cause of the rebellion: was that the T:\-ks forced upon -the Albanians their spaec'li in the Albanian 1 echools anf- areveh ted ithe church bells from ringing, as the noise is supposed! to u.'. turb the Mahommedan devotions. Besides these, the Albanians were forced to disarm, and as Turkey has no power to protect them, the 'Christians won now persecuted by Mohammedans. Last of all/ Turkey demanded. :■;. .-. lump sum the taxes 'which had not \bsea collected for .jten years. War between England and Germany, says the Prince, is certain, ..:.■;' the eooner it kxwnes ttlie better it ■•fill be for England, for by 1917 G-.::;■-,v. - N will have .a navy equal to that of England), who 'will bo handicapped r-r ■;..- wain.t of mien. New Zealand is like Albania, nil hills and mountains, but, g?:;.;n ;.'.-.- visitor, the Albanians are more Christian than tlio iS T ew Zealanderr-,