Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-11
Valentine Bakers Career I'm the turk.
fsh Service.


Some years ago, one Friday night, an an
nouncement appeared i'll the London Gazette
| stating that her ma jesty the Queen had no
longer need of the services of Valentine
Baker, colonel, and late lieuten ant colonel of
the Tenth HHssars. How that announce
ment was regarded by those to whom it came
need not now be considered. From that
moment her msjesiy's army had lost the
services OF one OF its ablest cavalry officers,
and The nation capable snd loyal soldier.
Some short time had elapsed when the
British residents in Turkey learned 10 then
surprise that Excel. Baker had been APP
pointed, at the instance of certain distin-
guished persons known 10 the padishah, as
the head OF a new geadoymerie force which,
runor had il, would shortly be formed in
Turkey. He was to have a salary OF $4,000
a year, guaranteed by the Imperial Ottoman
Bank. Under him were 10 serve about q
dozen English officers chosen by him for va
rious qualities and qualifications, and under
his care the urban populations of Turkey
were TO '1augh and grow fat" Injustice
in the provinces, and in the towns too, for
the matter OF that, Was to disappear, rapa-
cious pashas were TO be checked, mudirs
were TO cease from troubling, and a weary
but long suffering people were to be at rest.
But human reasons are evanescent and often
deceptive. Placed under the supervision OF
sha, Baker Pasha-for BY this time he had
attained the rank of liza, or brigadier-gen-
eral-found that the promises OF the Porte
were like piecrust, and that these allitera-
tive arrangements were to be abortlye. In
fine, Valentine Baker, having engaged his
staff, got them out 10 Constantinople, re-
ported himself as ''ready TO b gin" and pre-
pared to send his officers into the districts he
had selected, discovered that the jovial Turk
L e Al.
face Of Providence by violently reforming a
system which Allah had approved, and
that, in fact, Handy Pasha mesnt TO do
not hing.
Meanwhile the Russians had cross ed the
Danube, and were we'll ensconced behind
the hills of Riela. There was kind of
panic at Stamboul, for somehow or other the
Turks had looked upon the Danube as
sort of impossible line, and were terribly
frightened when fret the Russ were cover
the border" In the midst OF the general
tremor Raker Pzshs, giving up for the mo-
ment the unworkab geldaIMerie scheme,
volunteered for active service. M ght ne go
aud fight the in6del?' Jus hHLitth," (please
Cod, was the reply, and 10 Shumla he went,
to place himself under the command of the
slowest, LATEST and most incompetent com
mander of Ottoman forces. Ahmed Eyoub,
who ever led the hosts of the comm snder of |
career on the Danube there is no necessity to |
treat In detail. He was presently on the |
staff OF Mehemet Ali, and while in this posi- |
ton gained the four little battles of Kzs- |
chedo. Then Suleiman came, and with him |
be served. All was of no use, however, and |
he presently returned, dishs artened and |
upset, to Stamboul, resting awhile, but |
chsfing to be away, At length an opportuni-
ty offered, and he found himself |
at snipks, awaiting Raouf, the Cir |
cassiaD. Presently Mehemet Ali-the little !
German who Wss later on TO be asssssinated |
in Bosnia-demanded his services at Ka- |
marli, and here he was placed in Command |
Of the extreme right. Mehemet Ali stayed |
but little while, however, and then came |
own name 10 the front-Suleimsn |
who was after9ard tried on the charge Of |
trezehery, and finally condemned. AZ the |
retreat OF that strange comm ander Baker |
once more distinguished himself by the |
2 allant figure he made with 100 Turks |
> gsinst 10000 Russians, and so, too, during |
the fight to the sea, conducted himself as a |
soldier should.
Returned once more 10 onstsninople, |
Bsker devoted himself TO considering how |
best the czpitsl might be defended against |
he Muscoyite hosts then rapidly advancing. |
His plans-eIecuted al last-were 80 adj |
miTsble that q is not saying TOO much 20 /
assert that had be been allowed 10 hold the |
lines with sc, 900 men the treaty of San StefsLo /
would never have been made, Peace came, |
md with II certain relaxation Of Bsker's
duties, for between the time when the Rus
sIans occupied Macrikeni and the day which |
saw their departure upon Baker had devolved
the task of defending the most important
part Of the Turkish lines. Baker was now
Tree TO hnish the "lines" he had partially and