South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-22
The Fallen Leader From Land of Eagles
By Stephen Bonsal


Essad Pasha, leader Of a large
group of Mohammedan Albanians,
chief OF the great clan Of Topani
lord of the great estates of Tirana,
who fell before an assassin's bullet
under the portals of the Hotel Con-
tinental in Paris last Sunday, was
one OF the most interesting figures
at the Paris peace conference. and
his unhappy end will be deplOred by
all who came in contact with him.
The cOwardly assassin is a fellow
countryman and he doubtless was
inspired 10 his dastardly deed by
one of those clan feuds which have
drenched the hills OF Albania with
human blood for centuries. Indeed.
in cong arisOn with Albania. Cor
sica, the traditional land of the VEN
delta, is a temple OF brotherly love
and the home OF friendship and
concord.
AS a great Albania noble with ex-
tensive possessions and spacious es-
tates. II is estimated that his farm
holdings covered at least one-third
OF the Albanian plains. Essad Pasha
entered the Turkish army at an
early age. as were indeed all the
land-owning begs compelled 10 do.
I'm order TO retain title i'm their pos
sessions, and 10 was not long be-
fore ne reasserted the leading posi-
ton that came 10 him by heredity.
During the Balkan war of 1912 his
orders from COnstantinpole were to
withdraw from his exposed posi-
tiOns as promptly as possible and
rejoin the main Turkish forces
with such men as he could bring
on But with fixed purpose. he al
lowed the moment of ESCAPE and
possible withdrawal 20 slip through
his fingers. and he also permitted
the onrushing Montenegrians to in
tercept his retreat.
Was nm UnluCky Day.
II is generally admitted that that
was an Unlucky day for the sons Of
the Black Mountain when they ac-
complished this feat. King Nicho-
las did not think so at first and he
announced 10 the world in grandilo-
Quent DEGREES that the old fox had
been trapped at last and with head
long gallantry he sent his noun
taineers against the simple earth
works which Essad hastily con-
structed around Scutari. the only
water outlet OF the Eagles nest
Here was enacted the bloodiest cpl
sode Of a bloody war.
Today there are no hamlets and
but few houses in Montenegro
whose occupants do not mourn for
a gallant son who In the weeks and
months that followed fell outside OF
Essads simple but stubbornly de-
Tended breastworks The siege
went on for months and the flower
Of NontenegrO's sons fell before the
A .-fa p 81
and strengthened by a mere hand
ful OF sturdy Turkish regulars.
Although the Turkish armies were
IN full retreat on all other fronts,
Essad maintained his position with
ont yielding an inch. After weeks
and months OF battle. the hcavy ar
tfllery. which the Serbians could
now dispose of. was sent 10 aid King
Nicholas and his mountaineers.
Their heavy direct fire levelled the
Albanian trenches 70 the ground.
but the men from the land OF the
Eagles hung on with amazing. al
most incredible, tenaciry. and when
the armistice was arranged, the
crescent moon flag still few over
Scutari and Essad Pasha reigned
supreme in the famous citadel that
he not unnaturally regarded as his
own.
led National Movement
In the confused monthsrhat fol-
lowed. EsSad extended his already
great authority in the Central AL
bantam plains. He drew away from
Turkey and became the leader OF
the Albanian national movement.
When in their wisdom the powers
imposed WED. the German prince
LEI. upon Albania as its future ruler.
T1ssad supported the lucisless intru-
der although this solution was not
what he had desired When the
Prince OF Wied. Mpret OF Aibanil,
same 20 the end OF his short tether
and had 20 depart in most unprince-
~ haste. he trained his Austrian