The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-02-02
Commodore Anmen and the Mutlneers.

A story told of Commodore Anmep,
of the navy, the inventor of the steam
ram, illustrates how important is un-
hesitating action in case of a mutiny.
At the close of the war Ammen was the
Captain of q Pacific Mail steamer. He
had shipped as part of his crew lot
OF soldiers, men who had been sailors
before the war, but who had served
since that time i'll the army. They were
a reckless, bad lot. A lmost before tba
steamer had left New York it was evi-
dent there was going to be trouble.
These sailors tiouted at the grub fur
nished them, and said they must have
as good as the cabin passengers. One
day the affair eliminated by this gang
forming and coming aft. When they
entered the saloon they were headed by
two desperadoes who had inc ted the
mutiny. At their appearance several
army officers on board volunteered their
services to Ammen; he thanked them
mildly, but said he would not need their
help. He walked forward languidlv
toward the mutineers, and without Civ
ing them an opportunity to say word,
took out his watch and said !: Snow.
men, want you to go right back to
the tokesel. will give you one min
ute to go" Ammen had the appear
ance of benevolent old deacon who
would weep with pain at the necessity
of killing fly. His voice was as soft
as if his mouth was lined with plush
velvet, and as sweet as maiden's whis-
per when Adolphus first encircles her
timid waist. When he said simply to
his men, "Now want you to go right
back to the fokesel," the leaders grinned.
This mutiny was to succeed too easily.
So, during the minute they scoffed at
the old man. At precisely sixty sec
onds after the expiration of Ammen's
remarks he raised pistol and shot one
of the ringleaders dead. "Will you 90
back to the fokesel 90 said Amnen to
the second rlngleader. The man hesi-
tated; flash report! and he, too, fell
dead.
The deadly, persistent blandness of
Ammen's composure drove terror
through the ranks of the mutineers.
They went forward, and there never
was any more trouble. This prompt
action alone saved a very rich ship and
a large number of passengers from plum
der, outrage and murder.
American OnIcers in the Egyptian ARMY,
Under Hohammed Ali and Ibrahim.
the Egyptian army a comparatively
high degree of efficiency. as is proved
by the campaigns of the Morea and
Syria. The Khedive has done much
toward increasing this efficiency and has
called into his service several American
officers in place OF the Europeans for
merly employed. This was. no doubt,
mainy because of the improbabilitv of
our country ever taking part III Euro
pean general wars, SO that he could
count upon Americans standing by him
IN any complication; while officers might
at any moment be ordered away by
their government in the event of war,
and at the same time carry with them
knowledge valuable to his enemies.
These officers are employed chiefly as
Typographical engineers on surveys and
explorations, being seldom on duty with
troops. They have been engaged in ex-
tensive explorations, having military,
scientific, and commercial purposes in
work well, and the Khedive told me
that he was much pleased with them,
and desired more iii his service. But |
would by no means advise any one do.
ing well at home to accept commission
in the Egyptian service. Two large
parties under American officers are now
exploring Darfour, tedious and diff
cult task. There were others in the
with the English General Cor
don, an officer of whom all spoke in the
highest terms as man of great ability,
energy, courage, and honesty. Wheth-
ar the advantages. resulting from the
of Darfour and the Soudan |
will be commensurate with the cost re-
mains to be seen.
In the recent Abyssinian campaign,
most of the American officers were with |
the active army, and there is good rea-
son to believe that, had the Egyptian |
commander, Ritch Pasha, followed their
his miserable fiasco would |
have been converted into a brilliant sue |
,ess. They did their duty galantly |
and Loyalty, and deserved better COM
nander.
As an instance of what has been done,
and the Kbedive's manner of doing it, /
will repeat statement made TO me by
,he officer concerned.
When this officer had been some
months in Egypt, the Khedive sent for
aim one day, and asked what was the
worst thing he had observed 10 regard
o the army. He replied that it was
hat the regiments were commanded by
civilians. The Khedive said
"No, there is a colonel for every reg
ment.n
1Yes, said the American, 0but each
colonel, chief of battalion, and captain,
las civilian clerk, who controls every
hing relating to the pay, rations, and
'lothing of the men, and whoever does
hat really commands"
.'You are right" said the Khedive;
but how would you correct this ?''
By requiring that the colonels should
ave sergeants as their clerks; the chiefs
i battalions, corporals; the captains,
private soldiers; and also requiring that
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