The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-15
ENGLAND SElzES MIHYLENE.
4 British Ironclad Boldly Occupies the
Place in The Name Of the Queen.
REGARDED As HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT.
A Decided Feeling of Uneasiness Caused In
Diplomatic Circles-liavc They Iwisteo
the British Lions Tail.

| of blue iackets and marines from britlsh
ironclad. accompanied bya battery OF hsht
field pieces and several gatling guns, was
landed yesterday morning at SigrI' on 'ne
island Of Mitylene. formally occupying that
place in the name of the Queen Of England.
There is a good harbor at Sigri and 1t Is sup
posed that the British naval officers at Mity-
lene intend to fortify the island and make "
q coaling station and rendezvous Tor the
British Mediterranean fleet. Sigrl Is on the
coast of :Dfitylene and is about Sixty nDieS
from tho mouth of the Dardanelles.
THE FEEIIsG IN FRANCE.
PARIS. Sept. 14.-A decided feeling OF un,,
easiness has been caused in diplomatic anu
financial circles here by the receipt OF an
alarming dispatch announcing that Slsr, Oh
the west coast of the island of Mltylene, an
island belonging to Turkey, near the coast OF
Asia Minor and within easy steamlng dis-
tance IF the Dardaneles, has been occupied
by detachment of British troops or marines
landed there from IA British ironclad. NO de
tails have been received and the report lacks
confirmation.
The island of Mityene is within twenty
five miles of the Hellespont. has an area OF
276 square miles and population or i0,uo0-
1t has good harbors and fertile SOL. Inc
principal towns are Castro COR Mitylene) ana
Moliyo.
ONLY FIVE MILES IN LENGTH.
Tenedos. on the other hand, though occupy
ing q much more advantageous position, pe,
ing TO all intents and purposes the actual
entrance of the Hellespont. is only five miles
in length and it is of a rugged, rocky nature.
Under ordinary circumstances little or no
credence would have been placed IN this alarm
ing rumor, but coupled with the story broadly
circulated on Saturday that Great Britain,
in view of Russia's practical coercion or
Turkey in regard to the passage through the
Dardanelles of vessels belonging To her vol
unteer feet intended to occupy the island
of Tenedos. at the entrance TO the Helles-
pont or Dandanelles more serious attention
is paid 10 this dispatch from COnstantlnople
The island of AIitylene would form most
advantageous position, from which Great
Britain could control the waters OF the Helles-
pont.
MUCH EXCITEMENT IN LONDON.
LONDON. Sept lf-So soon as the report
of the occupation of Mitylene by u British
force was received here there was consider
able excitement. UP to this hour (5;3O +. NJ
there has been no official utterance upon the
subject. Reporters and correspondents
by the score have called at the
foreign Office and at the admiralty,
but the officials on duty there decline to CON
firm the report that Great Britain had taken
action in the 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 consequently led TO
believe that there must be some truth III
them.
A dispatch has been received from Constau-
tlnOple stating that the occupation OF the
island of Mitylene is an accomplished fact and
it has found an echo on all the continental
bourses to-day.
WHAT is THOUGHT OF 1T.
The general opinion seems to be that if tho
British forces had not landed in the nelghbor-
hood OF the Dardaneiles, neither the foreign
Office nor the admiralty would have to deny
rumor calculated 10 awaken the grayest appre-
hension in financial and diplomatic circles.
The st. James Gazette THIS evening says
that the startling news concerning the island
of Mitylene obviously possesses political sig
nificance of the first Importance.
Continuing, the same paper adds that the
island of Mitylene has position OF consider
able strategic importance, although possess
ing little in the way of Notifications.
Government officials who have been ques-
toned upon the Mitylene incident deny
having any knowledge of the landing of the
British forces at Sigri They say however.
that detachment OF blue Jackets may pos
sibly have landed there for drill purposes.
WILL BE MET By FORCE.
Notwithstanding the qualified denial by
Government officials Of the reported seizure
of port ON the island of Mitylene public
opinion is almost universally to the effect that
the situation at the Dsrdanelles will be met
by England with force. In public places
nothing else Is talked or although
it is not believed that either Turkey OF Rus
sia will approve any violent resistance
10 such steps as England may choose TO take
The British fleet is now equal in line OF battle
abfpe tO the fleets of other two EurNnQaQ
powers and would, in the opinion of naval
officers, speedily clear the Dardanelles and
the Black sea OF Russian craft. aud also give
good account OF the French If they should
interfere A dispatch from Portsmouth
says that the authorities there had not
heard officially of any seizure OF Turkish port
Of the island, but one official who was MIR
viewed said he would not be surprised at any
time 10 hear of some critical action. not that
he had heard from his superors on the sub
iect. but that the whole situation. as publicly
known, was highly threatening
WHAT WILL TURKEY DO?
The recent visit of the French fleet to
Portsmouth. and the fraternal greetings and
enthusiasm add great interest TO the subject
of possible war An Englishman intimately
connected with the Turkish legation, said to-
day: Should war break out between Russia
and England Turkey would. | think, allow
them to fight it out. simply taking care
of herself If attacked. | do not think
that Turkey would eonstruo the seizure OF
Sigri as al act OF war against her while At the
same time she would not recognize the right
of England TO make the seizure, which, how
ever remains to be confirmed" At the Rus
sian legation all was diplomatic reserve and
silenco, though the secretaries looked as il
something grave had come to their knowl-
edge.
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