HOBART PASHA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 8, 24 November 1877, Page 3

HOBART PASHA.

Tin: statem.-nt is continually in tie bond m newspapfra that Hobart Pasha ix'in command of the Turkish fleet It may l>e ai well once for all to state that Admiral Hobart never has held such command, and that it is very unlikely that he ever will. During the past two months, with one short exception, lie lias been in Constantinople. It is no secret that a squadron under his command in the lilack Sea would be much more to his taste than dancing attendance at the Admiralty, and it is announced that he has succeeded in obtaining such a command. Rut fortunately, probably, for the Russian coasts, the Turks ait; much too jealous of him as a foreigner to give him a command sufficiently important to allow him to distinguish himself. .Meantime, it is a pleasure to sec him in the streets of Constantinople, and to know that the Turkish fleet is out of harm's way. The Turks have excused themselves for not giving him a command, on the plea that they want his assistance in < 'ouncil here. It is to be hoped that they may continue of the same mind. His advice will cettainly be honestly given. ('oming from a foreigner, it i.s almost equally certain not to be acted on. Rut the Government will be satisfied to have had it, and to have rejected it. The entire control of all the movements of the ships was in the bands of Serdar Ekrem, with whom, indeed, in spite of all his mismanagement, it remains to this day. Nor was the excuse valid which hits since been made for him—that he had no competent adviser; for Hobart Pasha happened to be on tlw spot at the time, and not only detailed to the Serkar Ekrem what appears to have been an excellent plan for the immediate occupation of all points that could be made available by the Russians for crossing the river, but urged on him the- absolute necessity of immediately getting torpedoes, pctrolom, and other necessaries, for holding their own on the river. But the Serdar Ekrem desired Hobart Pasha to understand that he, the Serdar Ekem, was commander-in-chief of the .ships on the Danube, as well as of the armies ashore, and that lie had no need of any advice; in fact, be plainly requested the Admiral to mind his own, business.