The morning call., 1891-09-15
THE FIRST MOVE.
England S0izeS the Island Of
MityleDe in the BOSphOTuS
and Lands Troops.
A MENACE TO The CZAR.
The Possession Of the DaTda18ll6S to Be
Disputed by the Fleet Of
Great Britain.
EUROPE IS THOROUGHLY AROUSED.
France Shows UlelSIHeSS-EfeCt in the
Financial WOTld-The Island
Captured by England
EUROPE IS THOROUGHLY AROUSED.
Special to THE MoRNISs CALI

Epeeial to THE MoRNISs CALI.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Sept IA detach-
ment Of blue-jaekets and marines from
British iron-clad, accompanied by battery
of light field pieces and several Calling
guns, landed yesterday morning at Sigri, on
the island of Mitylene, formally occupying
that place in the name of the Queen of Eu-
gland. There is a good harbOr at Sigri and
it is supposed the British naval officers at
Mitylene intend to fortify the island to make
it a coaling station and rendezvous for the
British Mediterranean fleets. Sigri is Oh
the coast of Mitylene, and is about sixty
miles from the mouth of the Dardanelles.
1t is stated that the French and Russian
ambassadors here have received kilograms
from their respective Con>uls in Mitylene
announcing the occupation Of Sigri and
stating that guns have been landed and the
islet surrounded with torpedoes.
Excitement in England.
LONDON. Sept I4.-As soon as the report
of the occupation of Mityene by British
force was received here there was consider
able excitement Up to late hour this
evening there could be obtained 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 decline to confirm
the report that Great Britain has taken
action in the Dardanelles question.
The general opinion seems to be that if
the British forces had not landed in the
neigh borhood of the Dardanelles neither
the Foreign Office nor the Admiralty wonld
have refused to deny the rumor which is
calculated to awaken the gravest apprehen-
sion in financial and diplomatic circles
The Government officials who have been
questioned upon the Mitylene incident deny
having aay knowledge of the landing of
British forces at Sigri. They say, however,
detachment of blue-jackets may possibly
have landed there for drill purposes.
Late this evening another and more
startling dispatch comes by telegraph from
Atheus. 1t is that the Greek Consuls at
Mitylene and Smyrna have wired the Greek
Government that thirteen British men-of-
war landed troops and guns at Sigri on Fri
day and that they have already strongly
fortified the place.
Lord Saisbury's chief private secretary
has returned Unexpectedly to London and is
busy at the Foreign Office.
The ST. James Gazette this evening says:
The startling news concerning the island Of
Mitylene obviously possesses political sig
nifcance Of the first Importance. Continu-
5rrr- - dc hat +ba is1. oF hos
a position of considerable strategic i'm
portance, although possessing little in the
way of fortidcations.
The Daily News and Chronicle do not
believe the reports Of the Sigri seizure. If
the reports are true then the seizure is a
bellicose act, OF which Lord Salisbury could
hardly be capable.
An intimauon Of the intention of the
British Government to occupy an island CIV
ing point of vantage near the Dardaneles
was first heard of in the inner diplomatic
circles of Vienna and Berlin soon after Sir
William Whites audience with the Sultan
on Friday last. Nothing about it. however,
appeared in the European newspapers until
the Constantinople cable startled the bourses
and the public to-day. The reports were at
first treated as incredible, and are still held
to be of doubtful authenticity or at least
exaggerated. In the absence OF the Foreign
Offices confirmation of the reports, and
until the full details of the action of British
war-ships are known, the real significance
Of the movement cannot be revealed.
1t can be stated on high authority. how
ever, that Sir William White asked the
Sultan to assent to British occupation of
some point within striking distance of the
straits and offering good harborage for the
feet. Tenedos and Besika Bay, where the
feet rendezvoused from 1876 to 1878. have
been surveyed recently, and were reported
10 the Admiralty adversely. The offer made
the Sultan revived the request which the
British Government made in 1877, prior to
the acquisition of Cyprus. to purchase an
island near the Dardanelles. This project
mas long the subject of negotiations, and
was abandoned on the signing of the Anglo
Turkish convention in June, 1873.
CoNNIvANCE OF THE SULTAN.
Tie seizing Of Sgri, therefore, cannot
have occurred without the connivance of
the Sultan. The official announcement was
issued in Constantinople yesterday that a
complete entente had been arranged between
Sir William White aud the Sultan, but the
terms of the restored harmony were not
mentioned. The intimation that the seizure
Of the island would be followed by fortifca-
ton is modified by Berlin report tonight
that Lord Salisbury does not contemplate
the occupation of the island, but has de-
signed the movement rather as a demonstra-
tion to checkmate the Franco-Russian game.
The movement accentuates the diplomatic
crisis. Admiral Hoskns, in command of
the British Mediterranean Squadron, is
about TO be replaced by Admiral Tryon, who
hoisted his flag IN 1857 on the Nile, and who
sailed from Portsmouth for Gibraltar Fri
day to take over tae command.
Uneasiress in France.
PARIS, Sept. IA decided feelin of un-
easiness has been caused in diplomatic nd
financial circles here by the rec eipt of a dis
patch 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 steaming distance Of the
Dardanelles, was occupied by detachment
Of British troops or marines, landed there
from a British ironclad. The island is
within sixty miles of the Hellespopt. has an
area of 676 square miles, and population
of 10000. 1t has good harbors and fertile
soil.
Hinder ordinary circumstances little or M