Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-14
TURKEY RULED THE SEA.
The Ottoman Fleets Were a Terror
"a the Mediterranean Nations.


1t is difficult in these days OF Turk
ish naval degeneration to imagine that
there was a time when Turkish sea-
men and Turkish fleets dominated the
Mediterranean to the terror OF the
Christian nations that bordered 1t ana
traded upon it. There are many IA
mons seamen in the annals OF the
Ottoman empire, and many naval ac-
tions of great magnitude-in fact' the
most stupendous maritime conflict OF
historic times was the battle or Le-
panto. fought in 1871, in which the
Christian league Of the nations at
the western end of the Mediterranean
finally overthrew the Turk and prac-
tically put an end to the period OF
his naval d0mipation:
The first of the great Turkish sea
kings was Uruj Barbarossa, who was
born on the island of Lesbos toward
the close of the fifteenth century. For
some time he cruised in the Aren't
pelago, following the not unusual oc-
cupation Of a buccaneer, but soon ne
grew ambitious and, sailing with an
increased force along the African
coast. he fixed UP an agreement with
the king of Tunis, under which he
had free use of that port on condi-
ton that he handed over a fifth OF
his booty. The first exploit of UruJ
at this end of the Mediterranean was
the capture of two richly laden gal
leys belonging TO Pope Julius H.,
whose crews were so astounded at
the sight of Turkish turbans in such
western waters-the affair took place
off the island of Elba-that they made
hardly any resistance.
The Turk put his prisoners to work
the oars and set out for more plum
der. His next considerable capture
was that of a Spanish galleon carry
ing 500 soldiers, but the unfortunate
people were so horribly seasick that
they. too. put up no opposition to the
Turk In the course of year or
two Uruj was at the head Of squad
ron OF eight ships. and naturally be-
gan To turn his thoughts to some
thing better than the paying of trib-
ute to the king of Tunis.
He, therefore, set out to assist the
dethroned king of Bujeya to regain
his country from the Spaniards, but
thanks TO wound he himself re-
ha of hn or
Genoese admiral, Andrea Doria, he
failed. and his power was for the
time broken.
Uruj had a worthy successor in his
younger brother. whose name is va
riously rendered Chirraddin, Kheyr-
ed-din or Hairredin. BY series of
cunning diplomatic moves of which
this period is so full, Chiaraddin OBJ
tanned much assistance from the sui
tan, and gradually regained all that
had been lost in the battle where his
brother lost his life. Having estab-
lished himself ashore, he equipped a
fleet of eighteen galleons. and with
these he secured the Mediterranean
every year from May to August in
search Of Christian booty. and so
greatly did he increase his power that
In few years he laid successful siege
fell after a continuous day and night
bombardment of fortnight. A cou-
pie of weeks after the place had
fallen nine transports full of REIN
forcements arrived, and after the
Turks had watched them for some
time sailing up and down outside try
ing TO locate the now unrecognizable
fortress, they pounced out and took
the whole fotilla. with nearly 5000
prisoners
Concurrently with these successes
in the west the Turkish fleet at home
had been busying itself. Lepanto was
taken from Venice, Egypt was con-
quered. and last rock of all in the
Christian rule of the Mediterranean.
the island of Rhodes. garrisoned by
the Knights of st. John. was taken in
1922 after a long siege. in which were
engaged 400 ships and over 100. 900
soldiers.
Chiaraddin was then recalled by the
sultan to undertake the reconStruc-
ton Of the Turkish fleet. In 1888 a
great fight was fought off PreveZa
between him and Andrea Doria, but
nothing decisive occurred, the Geno-
eSe sailing away and leaving the Turks
in command of the waters The great
admiral died in 1916. when he was
about 80 years of age. after adding
greatly to his reputation by daring
and successful exploits in France.
The year 1871 was vital one in
the history Of Turkish sea power 1t
began with great Turkish success
the taking of Cyprus: ii ended with
Lepanto and the practical annihila
tion of the Moslem fleet. Before its