§ MR. HAYTERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any information respecting the position of affairs at Batoum, specially with relation to the report contained in the "Daily News" of the 13th inst. to the following effect, viz.:
That Dervish Pasha has under his command 25 battalions, including one of Zeibeks. The town itself contains 12 battalions, and two field batteries. The last steamer brought 60 fresh artillery horses. The hills round the town are held by Turkish troops. One ironclad and one wooden frigate are anchored close inshore;and, whether the English Consul at Trebizond has informed Sir Austen Layard that the Lazes persist in declaring that they consider themselves under British protection, and that they will hoist the 2019 British flag on the advance of the Russians against Batoum?
§ MR. BOURKESir, we are aware that Batoum is still held by Dervish Pasha and the troops under his command; but negotiations are going on between the Turkish Government and the Russian Government for its surrender. That is all the information I can give the hon. and gallant Gentleman with regard to that part of his Question. Of course, we do not know how many troops Dervish Pasha has under his command. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I have to say that we have received a telegram respecting a Petition which the Consul at Trebizond has received from the Lazes, stating that if the Russians attacked them they would unfurl the British flag and consider themselves under British protection.