'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 [‎2v] (4/24)

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than those so vainly attacked by the Russians, and so well defended by
the Bashi-Bazouks.” Their commander, Hassan Tahsin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , seems
to have disposed of his forces in the most admirable manner. “ Great
enthusiasm,” adds the correspondent, 1 “ prevails among the Ottoman
soldiery, and Bashi-Bazouks are being sent to the front in large numbers
every day." The same bravery, which in the face of efficient Russian
batteries of field artillery defended the heights of Batoum, may yet
more intensely show itself in Europe and Asia Minor, and turn the tide
of war during some extraordinary crisis—it may be while our free and
rightful passage to India is threatened by the enemies of free trade and
free religion; and it has been well said that the Russians could not keep
any portion of Asia Minor, which would impede our free communica
tion with India 2 —or we may yet have the Bashi-Bazouk, in the height of
his energy and ferocity, fighting by the side of the British soldier on the
Danube or at Constantinople !
But neutrality, if possible, or merely looking after “ British interests,”
being our wise policy, and the order of the day signifying that the
grand future is now to be chiefly regarded, and much of the com
paratively insignificant past forgotten, it may be some time before
the political horizon becomes sufficiently clear to admit of the latter
contingency. Among the tonics fcr the “ sick man,” when he becomes
convalescent, and from well carried out reforms he ceases to be the
terror of Turkish bondholders, one of the most potent and efficacious
must be that which will have his numerous and scattered land forces
efficiently commanded; and among these the Turkish irregulars, from
the very nature of the countries where service may for a long time
to come be expected, must ever occupy a conspicuous if not a distin
guished place. It is now well-known that the vast territories under
Ottoman rule contain “a wider diversity of race and religion than can
be found in the possession of any other Power, unless we include the
colonial empire of Great Britain.” While writing these few remarks,
the fortunes of war in Asia Minor would seem to depend on the success
or failure of the revolt throughout the Caucasus. But even if the
Circassian revolt does not interfere with “ the Russian plan of opera
tions,” the Russians must feel uneasy at a miscellaneous levy of Kurds,
Bashi-Bazouks, and a few regular regiments, the whole under Mukhtar
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , hurrying down towards Bayazid “ to bar the road to Erzeroum.”
Regarding such and similar useful work in esse, it has been justly
remarked :—“ Only half disciplined as these raw levies are, they might
give the invader a great deal of trouble in the mountainous country
intervening between him and the capital of Armenia.” Unfortunately,
people are already beginning to lose hope that “ the brave but ill-
manoeuvred forces of the Sultan ” will be able to repel “ the over
1 Of the Daily Telegraph.
* “ Russian Prospects” in Standard, of May 24th.