The Portland daily press., 1891-09-15
In THE QUEENS NAME,
British Tars Make Answer to the
Challenge Of the Gar.
The Island Of MityIene Seized by an
English Fleet.
1t Is Well Situated for Operations
in the DardaneIles.

LONDON, September 14.-Late this eve
ming startling despatch comes by telegraph
from Athens that the Greek consuls at Nifty
fene and Smyrna have wired the Greek
government that thirteen British men-of-war
landed troops and guns at Sigri Friday
They have already strongly fortified that
place. Lord Salisbury's chief private secre-
tary has returned unexpectedly to London,
and is busy at the foreign office.
The news from Athens was foreshadowed
early in the day by a Constantinople des-
patch which said that detachment of blue
Jackets and marines from British ironclad,
accompanied by battery of light field
pieces and several Gatling guns, was landed
yesterday morning at Sigri on the Island of
Mitylene, formally occupying that place in
the name of the Queen of England. There
is good harbor at Sigri. and it is supposed
that the British naval officers at Mitylene
intend to fortify the island, and to make 1t
coaling station and rendezvous for the
British Mediterranean fleet. Sigri is on the
east coast of Mitylene, and is about sixty
miles from the mouth of the Dardanelles.
AS soon as the report was received here,
reporters and correspondents by the score
called at the foreign Office and at the admi-
rally, but the officials ON duty there decline
to confirm the report that Great Britain had
taken action In th5 Dardanelles question.
Naturally the fact that the foreign office and
admiralty officials only decline to affirm
the report, gives strength to the reports in
circulation, and the general public is conse-
quently led to believe that there must be
some truth in them. The general opinion
seems to be that If the British forces had not
"a dad In tlA w,AtwA AtAr%k nA6 -
nelles neither the foreign office nor the ad-
miralty would have refused to deny a rum0r
calculated to awaken the gTavest apprehen.
sion In financial and diplomatic circles.
An intimation of the intention of the
British government to occupy an island Civ
ing point Of vantage near the Dardanelles,
was first heard of in the inner diplomat cir
cles OF Vienna and Berlin soon after Sir
VIM. Whites audience with the Sultan on
Friday last Nothing about it appeared in
European newspapers until the Constantine
pie cables startled the bourses and public
today. The reports at first were treated as
incredible and are still held to be of doubt
full authenticity OF at least exaggerated. In
alton OF the reports and until the details of
the action Of the British warships are
known, the full significance of the movement
cannot be revealed. 1t can be stated on high
authority, that Sir VIM. White asked the
Sultan to assent to British occupation of
some point within striking distance of the
straits, offering a good harborage for a fleet.
Tenedos and Besika bay have been surveyed
recently and were reported to the admiralty
adversely. The offer made to the Sultan re-
vived request which the British govern
ment made in 1877, prior to the acquisition of
Cyprus. to purchase an island near the Dar-
deneles. This project was long the subject
Of negotiations and was abandoned on the
signing Of the anglo-Turkish convention in
June, 1878.
1t is stated that complete
entente was arranged between Sir William
White and the Sultan, but the terms of the
restored harmony are not mentioned. The
intimation that the seizure of the island
would fbe followed by its fortifcation was
modified by a Berlin despatch tonight that
Lord Salisbury does not contemplate the
permanent occupation Of the island, but has
designed the movement rather as demon
stration to checkmate the Franco Russian
game. The movement accentuates the di-
plomatic crisis. Admiral Hoskins, In COM
mand of the British Mediterranean squad
ron, is about to be replaced by Admiral Try
on. who sailed from Portsmouth for Gibral.
tar, Friday, to take over the command.
The st. James Gazette this evening says
that the startling news concerning the ISL
and Of Mitylene obviously possesses political
significance of the first importance.
Continuing, the same paper adds that the
island OF Mitylene has position of c0nsid-
erabe stragetic Importance although pos
sessing little in the way of Notifications.
PARIS, September 14-A decided feeling
of uneasiness has been caused In diplomatic
and financial circles here by the receipt of an
alarming dispatch announcing that Sigri. on
the west coast of the island of Mitylene, an
island belonging to Turkey, near the coast
of Asia Minor, and within easy steaming dis
tance OF the Dardanelles. has been occupied
by detachment of British troops or ma
rines, landed there from British iron clad.
Upon the opening Of the Bonrse this NOM
ing, there was a general weakening of
prices due to the above report.
FRANKFORT, September 14.-The report
that Great Britain had seized port on the
island Mitylene was circulated here this
morning. and its effect was to weaken prices
on the Bourse.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, September Alt is
stated that the French and Russian ambass-
adors here have received kilograms from
their respective consuls in Mitylene, an
nouncing the occupation of Sigri, and stat
Ing that guns have been landed on an islet
l.l. -eal.s