The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-22 00:00:00

BATOUM AND ITS TERRITORY.

The Times of Tuesday published the following letter :--_—

- -
Sir,—While the question, "Is Batoum to be given
up or not," is in every one's mouth, may I venture to
make a few brief remarks on this important subject?
I would ask your readers to bear in mind the fact that
the inhabitants of Batoum and its neighbourhood for
many miles around are, without exception, Mussulmans.
We have been taught to believe that Russia waged
war against Turkey solely in the cause of the M-
used Christians in Bulgaria. If this is so, it is hard
to understand (at least to the uninitiated) on what
grounds Russia demands territory inhabited solely
by Mahomedans in Asia Minor. There are those
who argue that Russia is entitled to some indem-
nity, territorial or otherwise, for the sacrifice made
while causing the death of half a million of people and
while devastating the most beautiful country under
heaven in the cause of humanity and religion. It
goes sadly against the grain to admit such an argu-
ment, which I will not attempt at this moment to
refute. I would only ask thcse who love fair play
whether it is just that a brave race of Mahommedaus
inhabiting Asia Minor should be ptt under the iron
rule of Russia because Turkey has failed in her system
of administration of the Christians in Bulgaria. I
am able to bear witness what sort of stuff these Lazes
are made of. I myself saw during the late war from
10,000 to 12,000 of these brave men, actuated by the
love of their country and terrified at the notion of
being placed under Russian rule, of which they have
fearful traditions in bygone days, hurl themselves
against the Russian army who were advancing on
batoum, with rifles in their hands and knives
in their mouth, carrying in their wild passion all be-
fore them. I saw them, after having fired their rifles
throw the discharged weapons away, rush on armed
only with knives, and drive the enemy far back past
the frontier. Dervish Pasha, who commanded the
Turkish Army of defence, and I, who commanded the
Turkish fleet, whose duty it was to hold Batoum,
know how much of the obstinate, successful defenc
of that place to the very end of the war was to be
attributed to the aid we received from our brave Lazes,
who are, indeed, still determined to fight to the death
rather than again be placed under the detested yoke
of the Muscovites, which means, after what has hap-
pened, death, destruction, and annihilation to them
and their families.

Sir, Russia wants Batoum. Never mind the pain-
ful necessity which will fall to her of destroying the
inhabitants in and near to the place. It is enough.
that Russia wants Batoum. For my part, lam in-
clined to think that so long as England can protect
Armenia from the advance of the ambitious Muscovite
further than the absolute seaport; and can hold sacred
from his encroachments the roads leading from Persia
to the Black Sea south of the Russia ii frontier, no
great harm would be done, strategically speaking;
but, then, how is the safety of the brave people who
inhabit the province of Batoum to be assured? There
is, thank goodness, in this country always a feeling of
sympathy for the
.brave and the patriotic, whatever
may be their religion or calling. I am sure that
the great statesmen now employed in the Herculean
task of arranging the Eastern Question will not ignore
the poor, brave Lazes. Would it not be possible to
make Batoum a free port for trade, thus doing away
with obnoxious Custom-houses, both Turkish and
Russian? In such case, Russia could continue the
railroad from Tiflis-Poti to Batoum, and so have a
capital trading port in the Black Sea. If Russia is
honest, this would suffice, as she would have always a
harbour of refuge for her men-of-war and a harbour
of commerce for her merchant vessels, and she need
not be obliged to destroy the Mussulman population
in the province of Batoum.—Yours obediently,
HOBART PASHA.
June 16„