The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-17

which was SO often pronounced during
the Crimean war, Is not yet Iorgot-
ten, though very few people know mucn
about the commander Of the turkish
troops during this memorable period
He made his appearance in history sur
rounded by such names as those or
Lord Raglan, of Marshal Saint-Arnaud.
of Marshal Canrubert. His life before
the great days of the Crimean war
reads like a novel; 1t has just been
written by NJ. Georges Gaulis, from
notes furnished by the private doctor
of the Turkish commander, Swiss
who entered the sanitary service OF the
Ottoman army, and who ended his
life in Serayevo, before the entrance
Of the Austrians into Bosnia.
Omar's real name was Michael Lat
tas. He was born in the Christian
orthodox faith, in 1906, in the village OF
Tanya-Gora, in Croatia. His father
belonged to the Austrian adniinistra-
tion. Michael Lattas entered a school
of cadets and was attached at the age
OF eighteen to the chancellerie of the
staff at GoSplch. Soon afterwards ne
deserted, for reasons which remain oo-
scure or unknown. He sometimes al
legged that a German officer. who hated
the Slavs, ordered him. for a slight
fault, to be beaten for three hours
with a cord. 1t has been said that his
father incurred condemnation which
brought dishonor ON his name. The
dsserter entered Bosnia during the
night, determined to enlist in the Turk
ish army and to go to Constantinople.
He had not penny, and knew nobody.
The Bosnians fortunately for him. had
remained faithful to the patriarchal
laws of hospitality: he was received by
n bey named Michael. and worked on
his farm. He went from place to place.
working in a hundred different ways
for his bread. but he soon perceived
that there was no chance for him to
rise from the obScurest station II he
did not assume the turban; he became a
neophyte. had himself converted by a
hodja, and took the name OF omar
Lufti.
Once a Mohammedan. he became the
preceptor of the children of his master
and remained with them for two years
at Banyaluka; he then left Bosnia, ana
at Widin he became the drawing mas
ter of the sons Of Ibrahim Pasha, the
commander of the fortress. 1t was the
beginning of his fortune, as 1brahim
was an advanced Turk, who adopted
Occidental ideas. Omar became ac-
quainted with old Chrosreff. the Grand
Nizier, Turk of the old school. who
attached him to the topographic bureau
of the army. There he remained from
1880 to 1884. engaged in technical works.
and studying the French, Italian. Per-
sian and Arabic languages. He mar
riad in 1894 the daughter of colonel.
who got him appointed professor of
technical drawing at the military
school. with the rank of captain. One
day the Sultan Mahmoud visited the
military school, saw the new professor
and learned of his adventures, and the
next day omar, summoned 70 the inn
perial palaces. was informed that he
had become a major, and was tn be
the writing master of the heir pre-
sumptlve, Prince Abdul Medjid. He
was now ON the road to honors; in
1886 he was lieutenant colonel; two
years after, colonel; in 1889, when his
pupil ascended the throne, he was
made brigadier general and paSha.
He had never appeared before an
army when he was thus made general
at the age of thirty-three: neverthe-
less, We find him in 1912 taking part
in a campaign in Syria; in lS43 COM
manding a brigade in Albania; in 1S45,
a division general in the Lebanon, put
ting down an insurrection. He Is en-
poyed in Kurdistan and with 1900
men makes a rapid campaign and OBJ
talns a victory; on his return he Is
made field marshal. and becomes the
hero of the day, the hope of Turkey;
he is looked upon as a pacificador, to
use a Spanish expression. He is a
favorite of the Sultan. who gives him
a fine estate at Scutari The foreign
ambassadors forget his origin: the rene
gade and deserter IL sunk in the COM
mander Of the Turkish forces. All the
Polish and Hungarian refugees solicit
and fiatter him. He lives like a real
Turk. and has preserved only the pas
sion for wine.
In 1S4s the spirit Of revolution blew all
over Europe. Prince Bibesco was turned
out of Bucharest; Russia and Turkey
entered both the principalities. Rus
sla occupied Moldavia and Omar Pasha
was sent to Wallachia. He entered
Bucharest without fighting, and re-
malned there for two years leading the
life Of sovereign, cOurted by the old
boyars as we'll as by the Liberals, one
of whom even wrote a pamphlet in
which 1t was proved that Omar had as
much right to the throne of Rumania
as Ghika OF a Bibesco, as the Lattus
were descended from Latus, a Roman
centurion. 1t was in Bucharest that
Omar became acquainted with a Ger
man governess, who was converted by
him and changed her name to the
Oriental name Of Zobeldah. He took
her with him to Constantinople, and
their mutual affection was such that
she accompanied him in 1850 in a two
years campaign In Bosnia. Omar had
TO fight there an old feudal aristocracy
very warlike and Independent. The
deserter Of 1926 entered Serayevo at the
head of 10000 men and lived there sur
rounded with Aslatic pomp. During
his expeditions ne once entered the
house where he had been domstic;
ne loaded with presents the son of his
former master. He triumphed over su-
periOr forces with his irregular bashi-
bazuks and Albanians; he gradually
disarmed the population. Mussulman as
well as Christian; he commenced an
expedition against Montenegro, but
was checked by Austrian mediation.
A larger field Of action was preparing
for him. In 1853 the Russian armies
crossed the Pruth and Omar had now
an enemy worthy of him. He received
the command OF the whole Turkish
army. From Shumla he sent word to
Prince Gortchakoff to evacuate Turk
ish soil. On his refusal, he placed 1OO,.
VVV men OH Tic IiSut OdHk OI the IJdn.
ube. In front Of 10000 Russians. The
first important engagement took place
at Oltenitza, between Rustchuk and
Bucharest.
Impetuous in attack, Omar did not
Know how to follow up victory; ten
days after his success at Oltenitza, he
retired to his former positions. He
gained another undecisive success at
Kalafat, on Jan. 8. 1854. At that time
the allied forces, French and English,
arrived atGallipoli. Omar entered into
communication with the French gener-
ais. The first interview Of the three
chiefs OF the armies took place at
Varna; Omar yeft his camp at Shumla,
while Saint-Arnaud and Lord Raglan
came by sea. Omar insisted on the
necessity Of a common action In the
Dobrudja; Saint-Arnaud wrote to Mar
ehal Valiant:
Omar does not deserve all the good or