Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-24

Hobart returned to England, on account
it is said, OF a difficulty with the onlcets
| of the Confederate government, anu III
1867, having entered the Turkish service,
he was sent in command OF the TURKISH
| fleet to Crete, with unlimited powers anu
orders to stop the proceedings OF the 0reeS
blockade runners. For this service, ana
for his success in anegDtiation of syria In
the interest of general peace. he received
| high-class decorations from the FRENCH
Austrian and Turkish governments. On
mis- return to COnstantinOple, the sultan
promoted HIM to the rank OF Pasha, and
created him a full Admiral. He after
wards served as inspector general OF the
! Turkish navy. In June, 1871, be received
4 royal license from the Queen 10 accept
and wear the insignia Of the second
class of the Imperial order OF the
Medjdie. conferred on him by the sultan.
In December, 1874, after several inetiec-
tive efforts, he was restored to his place
IN the British navy, with the rank aud
pay OF captain on the retired list, or $500
per year, from which he had been de-
posed in 1867 for taking service under the
Turkish government. de still continued
IN the Turkish service, however. At the
beginning of the last war between Turkey
ana Russia be was in command OF the
Black sea fleet, which gave him an OPP
p0rtunity to distinguish himself. lie was
at Bustchuk on his steamer, the Rethymo,
in April. 1877, when the Russians took
possession Of Galatz, nearly two hundred
miles farther down the Danube, and be-
gan to plant tOrpedoes IN the river.
Hobart declared that he would blow up
his ship rather than desert her, and de-
termined TO attempt the passage down to
the Black Sea. Night approaching, he
made everything ready for running into
the Black sea in opposition to all Russian
hostile Intentions, getting clear nres un-
der the boilers OF bis craft, in order to
avoid smoke from her funnel, and making
other arrangements. The Rethym0 is a
very fast boat, capable of steaming at the
rate Of fifteen kuots an hour. When
Hobart started on his daring expedition
the Danube current was running swiftly,
being estimated at fully i've knots an
hour. Upon nearing Galatz ne found mat
heavily armed Russian batteries COM
manded the river, looking capable Of sink
ing anything'afioat, besides the torpeioes
reported 20 be hidden beneath the waters.
Immediately it was dark the word was
passed. hight out" and the steamer
sped rapidly along, The batteries were
soon reached, and the Russian lanterns,
the heavy guns, and soldiers in great
number were clearly visible to those who
manned the saucy Rethymo, when sud-
denly rocket was sent up from the
ROumahian shore to apprise the Mus
cOvite gunners OF Hobart Pasha's comng.s
Other rockets followed in quite success
sion. Then the hOarse word OF command
was distinctly heard, hughes sounded,and
the drums beat merrIly, summoDing the
Russians to their posts. Hobart expected
every moment TO be blown out of the water
by fire Of the heavy guns he was treating
50 cavalierly, but being determined TO
make efforts in some degree propOrtiOnate
to the great risk he was facing, he ran his
vessel close in shOre-not forty metres
from the batteries bemselves-indeed, so
near that the Russian gunners were I'M
able to depress their pieces sufficiently
fast 10 get a good aim. The boat went
quickly by at twenty knots an hour, and
soon aildanger was over. When satisfied
be had nothing to fear from his enemies,
Hobart ordered the crew of the Rethymo,
which carried the 40-pounder Armstrong
gun, to tnrow one shell into the centre of
the Russian camp, an order which was
quickly obeyed-the missile bursting in
the midst of the MuscOvite tents. 1t was
the FIRST cannon shot fired upon the
Danube in the Russo-Turkish war. HO-
bart Pasba subsequently proceeded to
COnstantin0ple. where he received enthu-
slastic congratulations.
He remained in active service through
out the war, but accomplished nothing
more that was noteworthy. In January,
1881, be was advanced 10 the rank of
Mushir or Marshal, but jealousy Of for
eigners prevented him from attaining the
position of Minister OF Marine, to which
he had long aspired, and to which he was
FULLY entitled by his services in reorganiz-
ing the Turkish navy. In July, 1885, he
was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral
on the retired list Of the British navy by
the Salisbury administration, a course
which ELECTED much bitter criticism and
opposition in Parliament.