The times., 1898-12-11
ADMIRAL NOEL.
BY His FIrmncss He Drove the
Turks From CANDIDA

From the London stAndard-)
The withdrawal of the Turkish troops
from Gambia has not been erected with
out incident. and a further exercise Of
timely firmness by the British authorities.
On Friday night while the work of en-
barking the troops and stores on board
the transport Ocampo was in active prog
ress. Cherki Bey. the lurking command
ant. walked down to the quay, and stop
ped the whole process, giving strict or
ders that nothing more was to be put
on board ship. In the course of the next
morning. the long expected Turkish
transport arrived, but Cherki Bey. instead
of receiving orders from ConStantinople
to resume evacuation. was actually in
structed to land the troops who had al
ready been embarked, ana TO await fur
ther orders In view of this extraordinary
and unlooked-for situation. Admiral Noel,
Col Chermside and Sir Alfred Bilioti
called upon Cherki Bey and informed him
that his troops must finally leave the city
IN the course of the day. He replied that
he had received no orders from his supe-
riors to that effect, and could not, there
fore, comply with the request of the Brit
ish officials.
Admiral Noel thereupon decided to re-
sort to compulsion- Shortly after the in
terview, armed picket-boats had seized all
the lighters III lut lLdIbOir SlEouS u
of marines had been drawn up on the
landing stage and the guns of her Ma
jesty's ship Turquoise had been cleared
for action. While these precautions were
being taken, Colonel Howard of the Rifle
Brigade surrounded the barracks. in
which there were still more than $50 Tur-
kish troops, and summoned the command
ing officer to march out his men. On
meeting with a refusal. Col. Howard gave
the order. and threatened. IN the event of
further contumacy, to take all his troops
prisoners. and embark them without their
arms.
Seeing that resistance was hopeless, the
Turkish officer changed his tone. and in
timated that he was prepared to obey.
The Turkish soldiers We're accordingly
marched down to the quay in squads of
fifty, escorted by British troops, with
fixed bayonets and put on board without
delay.
All the streets and gates were guarded
and patrolled by British soldiers. with or
ders to arrest any Turkish officers or men
who were not on their way to embark
The evacuation went on all through the
night Nine hunded soldiers. 800 women
and children, 40 horses and mountains
of baggage had to be got on board but
the operation was completed in less than
twelve hours, the British sailors ith
officers and bluejackets. working like gal
ey-slaves up to the last moment Event
ualiy, at daybreak yesterday morning.
the transports left for Salonica, the
Ocampo under the escort of British
gunboat Not single Turkish officer or
soldier is now left in the whole province
of Gambia, the governor and his STAFF be-
ing among the first to embark. Adni al
tsefs-
day last was the date assigned in the
admirars ultimatum for the completion
of the evacuation. and as it had not been
complied with to the letter. he cause the
Turkish flag to be hauled down. p-nding
the decision of the powers on the ques-
tion Of the suzerain rights to be conceded
to the Sultan.