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Saturday 22 October 2011

Movements of the Austrian, Turkish and Greek navies in the Mediterranean according to the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 23 August 1827

Korfu, 24 July. Nothing is known with certainty about the efforts and plans of Lord Cochrane with his [Greek] fleet. The Turkish fleet sailed for the second time towards Navarino, letting the sea unprotected for the four Greek brigs which Lord Cochrane left behind to blockade the Corinthian Gulf.

Livorno, 3 August. A ship which arrived today, met in the waters of Kandia a Turkish fleet and on the other side of Malta a, at this city built, 60-gun frigate of the Pasha of Egypt. According to rumours in the city was Alexandria 20 June blockaded by the Greeks. The 19th left a convoy without any troubles the harbour destined towards Marseille and Livorno.

Smirna, 14 June. The Austrian warbrig Velox (1), while conveying 15 ships, anchored 7 June off Nassau (island Paros) due to contrary winds. The convoy came from Alexandria and was destined towards Smirna, Constantinople and the Black Sea. The Greek naval officer Kanaris was there also with two fireships, a brig and a polacre. He informed the Austrian officer to be ordered to search all ships in the convoy. The Austrian officer reacted while saying that he wouldn’t be permit and to use if necessary violence. Kanaris send a vessel towards Paros for new orders. The vessel met underway some other Greek vessels, informed them what happened, and the 8th were all ready 5 Greek brigs of Nassau, blockading the Velox and the convoy. The Austrian officer send immediately the goelette Fenix (2) naar Smirna to inform colonel Dandolo (3). Dandolo departed in the morning of the 11th with ships towards Nassau. The faith of the several pirates captured by the British in the Levant was transferred in to the hands of the Greek government.

Notes
1. K. Gogg. Osterreichs Kriegsmarine 1440-1848. The 20-gun brig Otello, begun 1812 at Venice, transferred to Austria while still uncompleted on stocks 25 April 1814, launched as the Veloce May 1818, rebuilt at corvette 1827, a pram since 1836, coallighter 1837 and broken up 1839.
2. K. Gogg. Osterreichs Kriegsmarine 1440-1848. The 10-gun goelette Fenice, laid down at Venice 1811, launched 26 March 1812, transferred to Austria 25 April 1814, used as aviso, transport and guardvessel, rebuilt as the brig Ussaro 1828-1829, commissioned 1 August 1829, between March 1848 and August 1849 as the Il Crociato in Venetian service, renamed Hussar 19 November 1849, schoolship, stricken 1868 and sold 1870.
3. Lawrence Sondhaus. The Habsburg Empira and the Sea, Austrian Naval Policy, 1797-1866. Indiana. The former Venetian officer Sylvestro Dandolo, who also served in the Franco-Italian navy.