The Turkish Government, the statement continued, had applied to the
Powers for assistance and advice without dis- tinction. Thus Admiral Limpus had been lent by the British Admiralty to reorganize the Fleet, and the Porte hoped to find a British naval officer who would renounce his nationality and actually take command of the Fleet in war as Hobart Pasha did in 1877-8. On Monday the Grand Vizier " unofficially" stated to the representatives of the Triple Entente that the appointment of General Liman von Sanders was not political and would be mainly educational. It does not seem to be on all-fours even so with that of Admiral Limpus. On the other hand, the Porte can undoubtedly point to instances in which foreigners—very often renegades —actually took command of Turkish troops and ships. The Porte, in short, has precedents; whether it has wisdom is another question.
