THE SULTAN AND HIS NAVY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2139, 18 December 1890, Page 1

THE SULTAN AND HIS NAVY.

A writer in the United Service Magazine says that in Constantinople things are rather tending to become worse than to improve. It is impossible to ignore, and equally imposoible to disbelieve, the stories that abound in the very highest and least gossipy quarters concerning the unbridled luxury and disregard for the interests of the nation shown by the palace faction —men, women, and even children whose whims are satisfied by the expenditure of large sums that are urgently needed for the service of the State. When the rising took place in Eastern Koumelia in 1885 the Sultan ordered aa ironclad, reported as ready, to be coaled. It is doubtful whether she was ready, for throughout the fleet British artificers who had reached the end of their engagements had failed to got them renewed, and Turks had been appointed in their places, so that the engines bad not been oiled or turned for months together. However, this one ship may have had engines not absolutely rusted in their bearings. After much difficulty the Finance Ministry found some £SOOO, without the receipt of which the English merchant would not part with the required coal. Will it be believed that aa soon as the news of such a sum being in transit reached the Kiosk of Tildiz, a guard was sent to stop the treasure and take it to the palace ? This was actually done, to the no small chagrin of Hobart Pasha, who did not get the coal so urgently wanted till several days later, notwithstanding frequent appeals to the sovereign in person. Cases of an equally gross, if not quite so flagrant, character are of almost daily occurrence now.