Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-15
PUTUP THE BARS.
England Meets the Recent
Movement of Russia.
SOME Dses OF WAR PUT ON GUARD.


the DardaneIles, Seized and Occupied
by Blue Jackets = Some Reasons for
Doubling the Report, but Strong Indi-
cations that 1t Is True-A Move that
May or May Not Precipitate the Long
Threatened Conflict "A Cataciysm in
Spain.
LONDON, Sept. 15.-The most startling
rumor of the long series of war scares
came yesterday, first from Paris, and
then, in quick succession, from Vienna,
Berlin, and Constantinople. 1t was to
the effect that England had forestalled all
possibility of Russian dash on Constanti-
hople, and any advantage that the car
might derive from passage OF his war
ships through the ID rdanelles. by seizing
the island of Aiitylene. The confirmatory
dispatch from Constantinople is very mat
ter-of-fact. 1t says that detachment of
blue jackets and marines from British
ironclad, accompanied by battery of
light field pieces and several Calling guns,
was Sunday morning landed at Sigri, on
the island of Mitvlene. The detachment
formally occupied the place in the name
Of her Britannia majesty.
Reasons for IncreduIity.
The officials at the foreign deny having
any knowledge of the reported landing.
They profess to incline to the opinion
that if such landing has taken place it
was made 10y sailors for drill purposes.
There is an evident desire on the part of
the foreign office to lull the public into
quietude, so that the government may
have free hand for few days. The re-
port is pronounced canard. Lord Sails
bury, it is claimed, would hardly choose
time when he is sojourning abroad for
such an important act as practical chal-
lenge of war to Turkey. The under
foreign secretary, Sir j. Ferguson, is
also absent from England, as are most
of the chiefs of departments. Everything
that might be reasonably looked to for in
dications of the condition of England's
foreign relations, it is further claimed,
points to peacefuiness.
What Tory Paper Thinks.
But The St. James Gazette, which is a
very well informed Tory paper, says that
the startling news obviously possesses
political significance of the first irnpor-
tance. 1t adds that the island has posi-
tion of considerable strategic Importance,
although possessing little in the way of
Notifications. Public opinion is almost
universally to the effect that the situatiu"
Mt the Dardanelles will be met by EnglsT q
with force. In public places nothing Sc
is talked of, although it is not believed
that either rkey or Russia will approve
any violent resistance to such steps as
England may choose to take.
''Got the ships and Got the Men"
The British fleet is now equal, in line
of battle ships, to the fleets of any other
two European powers, and would in the
opinion of naval officers. speedily clear
the Dardanelies and the Black sea of Rus
sian craft, and also give a good account
of the French if they should interfere A
dispatch from Portsmouth says that the
naval authorities there had not heard off,
cially of any seizure of Turkish port or
island, but one official who was inter
viewed said he would not be surprised at
any time to hear of some critical action,
not that he had heard from his superiors
on the subject. but that the whole situa-
ton, as publicly known, was highly
threatening.
Turkey Not Spelling for a Fight.
An Englishman intimately connected
with the Turkish legation said yesterday:
SHOULD war break out between Russia
and England, Turkey would, | think, al
low them to fight it out, simply taking
rare of herself, if attacked. i do not think
that Turkey could construe the seizure of
Sigri as an act of war against her, while
at the same time she would not recognize
the right of England to make the seizure,
which, however, remains to be con frmed."
At the Russian legation all was diplo-
I'll L Al.
retaries looked as if something grave had
come to their knowledge.
The Interest of Austria.
Great significance is attached here to
an utterance of the Buda- Pesth Pesther
Lloyd. That paper, doubtless inspired
through its editor. Max Fake, reporter of
the foreign committee of the Hungarian
delegation, says that Austria Hungary's
interest in the Dardanelles question is
greater than Great Britain's, adding:
"Can Austria look on with complacency
while Russia, finding herself barred from
expanding through Bulgaria, advances by
shorter route to the geal she has in view
the seizure of Constantinoples England
can compensate herself with Egy4t. but
where is Austria's compensatious" Nit
ylene commands the Dardanelles. and is
moss important point in case of trouble
over in that direction.
War Predicted Next Winter.
The Daily News and The Chronicle do
not believe tie reports of the seizure. A
telegram from Rome says: articles in The
Esercito, supposed to be inspired by the
Italian minister of war. predict that war
will break out this winter and urge the
government 10 spare no effort in prepar-
Ing the army and navy for the ordeal
A Co .firmatory Telegram.
An Athens dispatch says that the Greek
consuls at 1itylene and Smyrna tele-
graphed tina thirteen British warships
landed troops at Sigri on Friday.