Three Were Slain With Nazim

New York Times 100 years ago today, January 25, 1913:
General Was Upbraiding Rioters When a Bullet Ended His Life.
    CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 24.— Nazim Pasha, the commander of the Turkish army, received his death wound while expostulating with a crowd of demonstrators for having become embroiled in a conflict at the Grand Vizierate. The official version of the affray, which is termed a "regrettable incident," was issued to-night.
    When the demonstrators, it says, headed by Enver Bey, one of the leaders of the Young Turk party, penetrated the Grand Vizierate in an attempt to enter the council chamber, they were stopped by Fafiz Bay, aid de camp to the Grand Vizier, who, drawing his revolver, fired a shot at them. Capt. Tewfik Bey Kibrizli, nephew and aid de camp of Nazim Pasha, also fired at the crowd, his bullet striking Mehmed Nedjif, one of the demonstrators. The demonstrators thereupon returned the fire and Capt. Tewfik Bey was instantly killed.
    Nazim Pasha, who was in the Council Chamber, heard the shots and rushed outside. Facing the demonstrators he upbraided them, calling them ill-mannered curs. While he was speaking a bullet cut short his remarks, and he fell dead.
    A secret police agent and an attendant of the Sheik-ul-Islam, head of the Mohammedan clergy, were also killed.
    The leading Unionists of Constantinople declare that the shooting of Nazim was unpremeditated and much regretted, but under the circumstances unavoidable. They say the Unionists bore no ill-will toward Nazim, whose open and soldierly character made him respected even by his political opponents. The fact that a notorious enemy of the Committee of Union and Progress like Rechad Pasha, the late Minister of the Interior, was allowed to go unhurt, it is argued, proves that the demonstrators desired to avoid bloodshed.
    Another version of the affair says that Nazim Pasha was killed by a shot from the revolver of Enver Bey, or Talaat Bey, and was accidental. The two officers were trying to protect themselves, says this story, from Nazim Pasha's aid de camp, who had shot at them from a window. They drew their revolvers and emptied them at him. The bullets struck and killed Nazim Pasha, who was seated within the room.

Rioting In the City.
    Great public excitement followed the killing of the Commander in Chief. Fighting took place at several places in the city this morning. A dozen or more persons have been wounded, and many arrests have been made.
    Talaat Bey, who is now Minister of the Interior, informed the European Embassies that all measures necessary to insure the security of the city had been taken. He also addressed circulars to the Provincial Governors, explaining the reasons for the change in the Government and calling upon the people to lend their moral and material aid to the Government, "which was determined to defend the interests of the country now faced with the prospects of a resumption of hostilities."
    The new Turkish Cabinet is made up as follows:
    Grand Vizier and Minister of War, Mahmud Shefket Pasha; President of Council of State, Said Halim; Interior, Talaat Bey; Foreign Affairs, (temporary.) Mukhtar Bey; Marine, Tschuruksula Mahmud; Justice, Ibrahim Pasha; Finance, Rifaat Bey; Public Works, Batzaria Effendi; Pious Foundations, Hairi Pasha; Agriculture, Djelal Effendi; Poss, Oskian Bey, and Public Instruction, Shukri Pasha.
    The Cabinet took the oath of allegiance to-day, following the burial of Nazim Pasha. Mahmud Shefket Pasha, the new Grand Vizier and Minister of War, an old comrade of the Commander in Chief, was present at the funeral.
    The Sultan went to the mosque at noon to attend the usual Selamlik, at which Mahmud Shefket Pasha and Enver Bey also were present. The function passed off without incident.

Wants Peace and Adrianople.
    The official view of the situation between Turkey and the Balkan allies may be set forth as follows:
    The Government does not desire a resumption of hostilities, but the powers are even less anxious to witness a renewal of the war, owing to the danger of possible complications in Europe. Turkey realizes her condition of penury, but this condition is chronic to her, and means can always be found for keeping afloat.
    On the other hand, from a military standpoint, Turkey is in a better condition than ever to wage war with advantage, especially as the Government believes the forces of the allies are near the point of exhaustion. Nevertheless the Porte would prefer to avoid further bloodshed, if this is honorably possible, and the maintenance and possession or Adrianople by the allies is not insisted on.
    Official circles are confident that no coercive pressure by the powers need be feared, nor threats of isolated action by Russia taken very seriously, owing to the possibility of such action bringing about European complications. Under these circumstances, it is felt here, that the allies may come to realize that Adrianople is not indispensable to their well being, especially when they see that it is the determination of the entire Turkish Nation to fight rather than to surrender the Holy City.
    A dramatic story is told of the scene outside the offices of the Grand Vizier when the leaders of the Young Turk party arrived there yesterday afternoon to overturn the peace Cabinet.
    There was a considerable crowd present and great enthusiasm when some one unfurled a flag and waved it. The excitement became tense when Enver Bey, mounted on a white charger, came in view, accompanied by several staff officers. As he dismounted before the door and made his request for an audience with the Grand Vizier the gates closed as if automatically.
    The Commandant of Constantinople, Memduh Pasha, stood on guard and refused to allow any one to enter except Enver Bey and Talaat Bey, one of his companions.
    After a short consultation among the group outside, Enver Bey and Talaat Bey returned and spoke to the Commandant, who opened the door and let them in. Accompanied by him they walked straight to the council chamber where most of the Ministers were gathered and without any preliminaries called upon the Cabinet to resign.
    The demand seemed to be expected, for Kiamil Pasha immediately sat down, wrote out his resignation, and handed it to Enver Bey who with his companion went outside, mounted their chargers, and proceeded to the Sultan's palace amid the cheers of the crowd.
    The Sultan was at first disinclined to accept the resignation as genuine, but after sending a messenger to the Grand Vizierate and obtaining confirmation, he called for Mahmoud Shefket Pasha and appointed him Grand Vizier.
    Enver Bey has now become a popular hero.