THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

THE WAR AT SEA 65
Greece to the south of the Thessalian frontier had been
freed from the Mussulman yoke.
In achieving this result the activity of the Greeks
at sea had played no inconsiderable part.
As early
as the 7th of April, the important island of Spezzia
had declared for the Hellenic cause, and a squadron
of eight brigs was at once fitted out for a cruise along
the coast of the Peloponnese. Off Milos they surprised
and captured a Turkish corvette and brig. The Mussulmans
on board were taken to Spezzia, publicly tortured
and executed. 1
This was the first episode in the
naval struggle which reproduced at sea the heroism
and the cruelty of the war on land. On the 23rd of
April Psara followed the example of Spezzia :
an event
of great strategical importance to the Greeks, because
the Psariot sea force was enough to prevent the Turks
of Asia Minor sending reinforcements to their compatriots
in the Morea. Hitherto
Hydra, the most important
of the ' naval ' islands, had held back, owing
to the timidity of the ruling oligarchy. On the 28th
of April, however, the people rose, under the demagogue
Oeconomos, ousted the oligarchy,
and hoisted
the Greek flag.
The islands now combined their
forces in a single fleet, under Jakonaki Tombazes,
a worthy and honourable man, though a poor admiral.
5
i Finlay,
i. 209.