The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-16
MITYLENE NOT SEIZED.
THE BRITISH ONLY LANDED FOR A
PRACTICE DRILL.

Tne Porte Assured By the British Gov
ernment That There was No Inten-
tion to Seize the Island-The Incident
Significant as Demonstrating to Rus
STA and France What England Can
Do.
LONDON, Sept 15-While it is now ad-
mitted that British force has not seized
the island of Miuylsue, news to the effect
that the island had been occupied was re-
ceived from Mitylenc aud elsewhere by the
various embassies at ConstAntinople and in
this and other capitals. The French, Rus
sian, Italian and Turkish governments
and the sultan personally received
information of the alleged landing of a
British force. These reports conourred In
stating that a division of the British Medi-
terrarean feet had landed at Sigri force
of sailors and marines, with several field
pieces and gatling guns that Sigri had
been occupied and fortified. and that the
British warships had surrounded the island
with submarine mines and torpedoes.
TURKEY DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION.
The new Turkish minister Of the interior
telegraphed to the British ambassador at
Constantinople, Sir William White, asking
the latter to explain the reports as TO the
| landing of British force on Turkish terri
tory. Sir William in reply, said that he
was entirely ignorant of the whole affair,
but, he added, it was probable that the
crews Of some British warships may have
landed on the island OF NIFTY lene IN the
course Of regular boat drills aud landing ex-
ercises.
NO FoRTIFICATIoNS CONSTRUCTED.
.tk a A..
| ish minister that no fOrtiflcations had been
constructed on the island by the British
| troops. This view Of the case was con-
| firmed by dispatches received hers during
| the night, which stated that the force which
had landed from the British warshiDs had
| re-embarked, and that the men. of-war had
left the island Of MitYlene for Marmoito.
Sir William White made the same ex-
| plantations 10 other embassies.
The affair has caused great excitement In
diplomatic circles for q snort time, and it Is
still asserted that the same "maneuvers"
had at least the purpose of showing the sui
tan and his advisers how easily England
could change her boat drills and landing ex
| ercses Off the island of Mitylene into dan
| gerous reality.
OPINION OF THE PRESS.
LONDON, Sept. 15.-The Times takes a
skeptical view of the Sigri rumors, and de-
clares doubtful the policy which made
! all tho arrangements upon q basis whloh
would have to be abandoned in crisis.
| ''In great struggle" says the Times, "it
would be our policy to close the Suez canal
and make our route to India by the Cape Of
Good Hope"
| The Standards Odessa correspondent
says during the coming five weeks 10000
troops will be conveyed by the Russian
volunteer fleet from Batoum to Sebastopol
| aud O6ncaa il atafad hxre thag ha
Mltylene scare has arisen from the fact that
a party of British naval officers on Satur-
day pickniced on Desert Islet off Cape Sigrl,
aud that they re-embarked the same evening
on board their vessel and sailed away Sun-
day.
| ITALY AFRAID OF WAR.
ROME, Sept 15.--Iu view Of the threaten
ing aspect OF the political situation Signor
Colombo, minister OF foreign affairs. pro-
poses TO increase the amount Of taxation by
from II, ,000, 900 to 90, 600, 900 lire. The gov
ernment Is privately urging the speedy
completion OF the man-of>war now being
built, and has ordered others to Spezza end
Naples to complete their armament Att the
same time all merchantmen classed as
cruisers have been ordered to sail to given
points Immediately to ship guns aud NUM-
| tions.
| ONLY MANEUVERING.
| PARIS, Sept. 15-M Ribot, minister OF
| foreign affairs, has received dispatch from
the French consul at Smyrna stating that
the British naval division which has been
maneuvering near Slgri, on the island OF
Mitylene. has left that island.
OCCUPATION DENIED.
BERLIN, Sept. 15.--An official di'patoh
received here from Constnntinople denies
that Sigri has been occupied by British
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