The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-15
SEIZED A TURKISH TOWN.
GREAT BRITAIN LANDS a FORCE on
SIGRI, NEAR THE DARDANELLES.

Doursea-BeIief TINT siEri WINS Seized
with the Couuivance OF tho Porte-Ene-
lands wish to rortIry an Island There.
CoSsrANTINoPLE. Sent. IA detachment OF
blue jackets and marines from British IRON
clad. accompanied by battery OF olRht field
pieces md several Calling guns. was landed
yesterday morning ut SiGrl. on the island OF
Mitylene formally occupying II in the namo Of
tho Queen OF England. There is good harbor
ut SiGri. and 1t 10 supposed that tho British
naval officers at Mltylene intend to fortify the
island and make 1t n coaling station and rem
dezvous for tho British editeirnnenn feet.
Sigri IL OH tho cast coast o. Mnylobe. and Is
about sixty miles from tho mouth Of the OAR
danelles.
II is said that tho French and Russian AM
bassadors hero hayo rccslvcd tc!egiams from
their respective Consuls in Nitylcno announc-
ing tho occupation OF Sigrl. and saving That
guns have been landed. and that tho island
has been surrounded with ,orrodoes.
LONDON. Sept. J. As soon rs tho report Of
the occupation OF Mityleue by a British fcioe
ives received here there was considerable en-
c,cmen'. Tn to this hour $3.50 J.. NJ there
has been no official iii terauce upon the subject.
\ dcs;,ntcl hrs been received from Com
st"n.inorlo saving that the occupation of the
island 81 Mityiene is on ACCOMPLISHED fact
AMI il has found an echo on III tho Conti-
mental bourscs to-day. Tho general opinion
se"ms to be that IL the British forces had not
landed in the neghborhood Of the Dnrdanc lies
neither tho Foreign Office nor the Admiralty
would havo refused TO deny runor calcu-
lated TO awaken the grnvest apprehension in
financial and diplomatic circles.
Tho 81. Jnness Gazette this evening SAYS
that tho startling news concerning the island
OF Mitylene obviously possesses political sig
nincance OF tho first in, portnnce. " adds that
the island has position OF considerable stra.
tegic Importance. although possessing little In
the way OF fortified tions.
Government officials who have been nues-
toned upon the Mityene incident deny hav-
ing any knowledge Of the landing OF British
forces at Sieri. They say. however. that a de-
tachment OF blue jackets may possibly havo
landed there for drill purposes.
Ldfr.-Lnte this evening another and
still more startling despatch comes by tel
esraph from Athens. It IL that the Crock Con
suls Mt NIityleno and at Smyrna have wired
the Crock Government that thirteen British
men-oi.war landed troops and guns Mt Sgri
on Friday. and that they have already strongly
fortified that place.
Lord Salsbrry's chief private secretary has
returned unexpectedly to London. and Is busy
at the Foreign Office.
An in,imntion OF the intention Of the B ritish
Government to occupy an island giving point
OF vantage near the Dardanelles was first
heard OF in the inner diplomatic circles OF
Vienna and Berlin soon after Sir Will
liam Whites audience with the Sultan
on Friday last. Nothing about it. however, ap-
pearcd In European newspapers till the Con-
stantinople cables startled the bourses and the
public to-day. The reports were at first treat
ell as incredible. and are eth held to be OF
doubtful authenticity. or at least exagger-
ated.
In the absence OF Foreign ONCE confrma-
ton OF the reports, and until the details OF
known. the full Significance OF the move
ment cannot DO revealed. 1t can be said
on high authority. however. that Sir Will
liam White asked the Sultan to assent
to the British occupation OF some point
within striking distance Of the Straits ard Of
feriug good hartorage for the fleet. Tene-
dos and Besika Bay. where the fleet rendaz.
voused from 1876 to 1878. have been surveyed
recently. and were reported to the Admiralty
adversely. The offer made TO the Sui
tan revived the request which tho Brit
ish Government nude in 1877 prior
to the acquisition OF Cyprus. 10 purchase :an
island near the Dnrdanelles. This project was
long the subject OF negotiations and was aban-
Convention In June. 1873.
The Selling Of Sigri therefore cannot have
occurred without the connivance OF the Sui
tan. An official announcement Issued In Con-
stantinople yesterday said that complete
entente had been arranged between Sir William
White and tho Sultan. but the terms OF the 70.
stored harmony were not mentioned.
Tho intimation that the seizure Of the island
would DO followed by its fertilization Is mod-
fled by Berlin report to.nigh: that Lord
Salisbury does not contemplate n permanent
OF the island. but has designed the
movement rather a. demonstration to
checkmate the Franco.Russian game.
Tho movement accentuates the diplomatic
crisis. Admiral Hoskins. in command OF the
British Mediterranean squadron. is about TO
be replaced by Admiral Tryon. who hoistel
Ills ila: in 1857 on the Nile and who sailed
from Portsmouth for Gibraltar on Friday to
take over tho command.
Tho Ners and the Chronicle both say that
the report OF the occupation Of Sigri cannot 10
without foundation. and that. II true.
the seizure will be nothing less than
o bellcose act, Of which Lord Salis-
bury could hardly have been capable since he
escaped the Beacopshe!d influence. They
hope the Government will. without delay. in
form the public OF the real facts.
Iu0 tWoUifP rays. LILO IalL IN American
railroads can only bs temporary. even II the
worst fears OF European complications arc
realized. War would mean a rise IN grain, 10
tho benefit Of American farmers and trunk
lines. Evon yesterdays slight fall brought q
crowd Of buyers"
IARls. Sept. IA feeling of uneasiness has
boon caused In diplomatic and financial cir |
clos here by the receipt OF despatch ANNOUNCE
Ing that Sigri, on the west coast OF the island
Of Mtylene. an island belonging to Turkey.
near the coast Of Asia Minor. and within easy
stoaming distance OF tho Dardan olles has been
by q detachment OF British troops or
marines. landed there from q British ironclad.
tngoous post from which Great Britain could
control the waters OF the H0llespout.
Upon tho opening OF the bourse hore this
MOI ming there was general weakening OF
prices, due to the above reported action OF
Great Britain.
The island % Mitylene is within twenty-five
miles OF Tie liellespont. IT has an area OF 276 |
square miles, and u population OF $4,000. 1t |
has good harDors and fertile soil. The prin-
cipal towns are Castro or Mitylenei and Mclivo |
Tenodos. on the, other hand though occupying
n much more advantageous position. being At |
The actual entrance OF the Hellespont, is only |
va m ilaa N lanUth nnt Ia NJ n rnuuai root, |