Smyrna, 4 April. According to the newspaper le Spectateur Oriental intended the Turkish a new landing at Samos and started for this purpose the building of transports at Changli near Scala Nuova. The appointment of Husseret Pasha as the new Grand Admiral caused great sensation among the Greeks who feared his courage and intelligence. The Turkish squadron was to consist of around 40 ships and vessels of different sizes and added by the Egyptian navy and the navies of the Barbaray States the Ottoman fleet numbered around 140 ships and vessels. The same newspaper described the Greek fire ships, which caused the Turkish to stay out of the Archipelago. Each fire ship was prepared to attach to an enemy ship at several points. She was set into fire through a pistol shot and a mechanism opened all boards spreading fire flames in every direction. The helmsman was standing in fact outside the fire ship so steering became possible while the fire ship was all ready burning. Rigging and sails, yards and spars were spread over with white spirit. Experts admired especially four very large fire ships considering these as masterpieces.
