The record-union., 1891-09-16
NIITYLENE.

Napoleon held that Constantinople was
the key to the road to India. If England
has seized Mitylene it has been done
because she believes Napoleon spoke the
truth, and that it is necessary for her tc
have an island naval station in the
archipelago close to the forts of Europe
and of Asia at the Dardanelles; distan;
enough to make retreat safe, near enough
to make the keeping of connection with
the base of supplies matter of compare
tive ease.
There is much to justify belief that
England has taken Sigri on the island,
and intends to hold it as naval station.
Thus, it may be taken in retaliation for
the act of Turkey in passing Russian
ships through the Bosphorus when
loaded with supplies of war It may
have been taken by consent of it's Turk
ish owner, the Sultan, who wishes to
keep Turkey outof the coming war, and
is therefore content that England may
have near vantage ground as conserva-
tor of peace.
On the other hand, there is much to ius-
tify unbelief in the story; as, the absence
abroad of Premier Salisbury, the fact
that the seizure is in violation of the
tripartite agreement, by which such occu-
patton is specially made cauSus 6eEh. II
now, England, supposed to be the power
OF all others most deprecating war, has
been the first to give cause for it, then
indeed the liability of the torch being
lighted in Europe and in Asia is immi-
nent. AT this writing it is impossible to
tell from the dispatches just what the
truth is. 1t strongly leans however to-
ward the verify of the story of the seiz-
ure.
MityEene is the most considerable ISL
and ofthe archipelago. 1t has three fine
harbors and is admirably adapted for
naval uses. 1t lies within sixty miles of
the Dardanelles and is about midway be-
tween Athens and Constantinople. 1t
really, and by right, belongs to Greece.
1t is Grecian property by every equity.
Turkey wrested it from its rightflll
owner, but has never been able to expel
the Greeks by the introduction of her
own people. No mosque or lninnaret is
to be seen there, and only the Greek
tongue is spoken. Its history relates to
earliest times, and its romance runs
abreast with the Homeric period. Its
circumference is about 40 miles. Its
snrface is mountainous, undulating and
plains lands in about equal parts. Cling
ing to its hillsides are pretty villages and
groves of oak, cultivated for the acorns
they yield, and which are shipped to Eu-
rope for tanning purposes. Its soil is
very fertile, and there are plantations in
great number of fig, olive and other trees
that make the island one of great wealth.
1t is fiowery land and its climate is
simply perfection. 1t was Mitylene, the
ancient Lesbos, that Tacitus described as
''i7eSutd 1aobiLis ct dmue7la'' IA noble and
pleasant island). When Roman arms
pushed north, the luxury, beauty and cli-
mate Of the Grecian Isles attracted the
conquerors and they accordingly chose
the best and there erected their retreats.
which became the abodes of luxury.
Some of the Roman aqueducts, fortresses,
walls and roads remain to this day.
1t was more important place under
Grecian rule and its best history is Gre
clan. when Athens had its academy.u -
says DIR. Field, Lesbos had its Schools OF
philosophy, which attracted the wise
men Of Greece. 1t was even more famous
as the birthplace of a school of lyric
poets,
Where burning sappho loved and sung
and others, whose shining odes live in the
collections of Greek poetry" 1t is the
most beautiful of all the archipelago col
lection; it is to-day, if England has not
possessed herself of it, the choicest spot
in the Hgean, slave to the rule ofthe
Moslem, though peopled by high-spir-
tied, liberty-loving and generous race.
The world ought to welcome any change
in its political condition that will free it
from bondage TO the bestial Turk.
Since the foregoing was put in type
news at hand indicate that English ships
of-war landed crews upon the island for
practice in landing-drill, and that no
seizure has been made. 1t is also asserted
that the incident was intended to be an
object lesson for the Porte. to illustrate
to that power how easy it will be foI
English men-of-warsmen to be converted
into landing forces for shore operations
Certainly there is something behind the
affair not yet disclosed, and we incline tc