Frankfurt, 24 July. German
newspapers republished tidings from the newspaper Spectateur Oriental of
Smyrna. One
item dated Syra 4 June referred to what happened with the crew of a Turkish
corvette, which pursued by 8 Greek ships stranded. Even the bodies were not
respected by the Greeks. The Captain Pasha was still in the waters of
Negroponte doing nothing. The burning of one of his frigates by Greek fire
ships while she was helpless when she lost her masts due to a wind gust, the
stranded corvette and the capture of 6 each independently sailing transports
including 5 Austrians caused many rumours. Al the money the Greeks at Morea
received coming form the last loan was spent. Their last hope was the fire
ships for which all efforts were done to multiply and improve these. The
merchants of Syra presented their government 2 merchant ships bought for 50.000
piasters and tot be fitted out as fire ship. The government bought lately 4
ships for 25.000-30.000 piasters each. In the past the government all ready
bought a large amount of foreign ships at Ipsara to be fitted out as fire
ships. Whatever the costs were every opportunity offered to buy a ship this was
done and the ships were send to Hydra where they were within 2 days fitted out
as a fire ship. The government also ordered the building of fire ships of a new
model at the islands Coulori and Poro. In stead of using iron nails or bolts
were just pins of wood used. This model was long, small and an extra ordinary
fast sailer. Two were all ready completed and one was to commanded by the
famous Canaris. The fire ships were all fitted out with a boat at the stern to
allow her crew to escape when the moment was there. When the Turkish ship was
‘entered’ a large pot containing a burning material was thrown into the fire
ships, which immediately set fire caused by the fuel on board, and the fire was
intended to go forwards to the bow. As soon as the fire was set the sailors
went on board of the boat escaping while rowing to a so-called scampavia with
around 40 palicaris on board which was waiting for them on a certain distance.
