'Remarks on the Bashi-Bazouks and other irregulars; including brief reflections on the present war. With a sketch of General William Ferguson Beatson, organiser of the Bashi-Bazouks during the Crimean campaign' by Colonel William Ferguson Beatson Laurie [‎3r] (5/24)

whelming odds” of the Russian ; but still the results of a holy war, or
a Jehad, are so uncertain; the Mahomedan populations of Asia, if once
fairly roused into action in defence of Islam, or the green banner of
“The Prophet,” will be sure to come forth with such enormous influence
and strength—to say nothing of the sympathy and, perhaps, if really
required, assistance from the thirty or forty millions of Mahomedans 1
under British rule in India—that even the most acute diplomatist —the
Talleyrand of the day—could hardly venture to speculate on the results
of this remarkably intense “ beginning of the end !” It is quite clear
that Europe and parts of Asia were never before on the eve of greater
changes; and there is no saying, even in spite of a temporary defeat by
the merciless instruments of unjustifiable aggression, how soon Turkey,
with the aid of a good fleet, and a good army, may rise into vast
importance, before Islam rapidly withers away ! Meanwhile, “ British
interests ” are very largely mixed up with Turkish. Turning to the
“ living present,” while the preaching of a religious crusade is exciting
Mahomedan fanaticism, and reports are coming in of the summary
treatment of the insurgent Circassians by the Russians—“ butchering
women and children, and wasting the revolted districts with fire and
sword ”—British sympathy must largely extend to all the brave
Mahomedan defenders of their rights, whether in Europe or in Asia;
and no doubt, long before this war is over, barbarities will have been
committed by Russia, quite on a par with, if not worse than, the
Bulgarian atrocities, in which the Bashi Bazouks took so prominent a
part. Comparing Russian inhumanity during late events with Turkish,
on the whole Russia appears to be the far greater sinner of the two ;
and this remarkable contrast has been nowhere better exhibited than by
Ear) Grey, in his admirable reply to Mr. Gladstone’s letter on the
conduct of Rajah Brooke. The noble Earl agrees that “ this country
ought to show towards Russia some of the indulgent consideration of
which it stands in need itself for its own offences against humanity ; but
if this is true as regards Russia, does not the same rule equally apply to
Turkey, or, rather, is there not far more to be said in excuse of the
Turks for the atrocious acts they did in Bulgaria, under the influence
of terror and great provocation by the outrages they had first suffered,
than for the more systematic and deliberate cruelties perpetrated with
the direct sanction of the Russsian Government in Poland, in the
Caucasus, and in Central Asia?”
As a general principle in the art of war, nothing conduces so much
to the exercise of humanity among troops—especially irregulars—before
an enemy, or during a rebellion, as the good example set, and the strict
discipline enforced, by the officers; and, as Sir Charles Napier, the
1 See the author’s pamphlet, ‘'Two Remarkable Phnses of the Eastern Question:
The Mahomedans in India ; and the Coming Struggle.” Also “ The Star ol India,”
&c., including the Mahomedan Address to Her Majesty the Queen.