Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-15
A BOLD STROKE.
England Occupies a Stragetic
Position.
Blue Jackets and Guns Landed
on Mitylene Island.
A British Naval Station Established
on Turkish Soil.
The Mouth of the HeI1espont Guarded by
British Guns The News of the
Occupation Causes Wild
Excitement.
Associated Press Dispatches.

CoNsTANTINoPLE, Sept. IA detach-
ment of blue jackets and marines from
British iron-clad, accompanied by a
battery of light field pieces and several
Gatling guns, have landed at Sigri, on
the west coast OF the island of Mitylene,
formally occupying that place in the
name of the queen of England. There
is good harbor there, and it is sup
posed the British naval officers at Nifty
leue intend to fortify the island to make
it coaling station and rendezvous for
the Mediterranean fleets. Sigri is about
sixty miles from the mouth of the Dar-
danelles.
1t is stated that the French and Rus
sian ambassadors here have received
kilograms from their respective coeuls
in Mitylene announcing the occupancy
of Sigri, and stating that the guns have
been landed and the islet surrounded
with tornadoes.
EXCITEMENT IN LONDON,
LONDON, Sept. 14.-As soon as the re-
port of the occupation Of Mitylene by
British force was received here, there
was considerable excitement. Up to
5 80 p. m. there had been no official ut
terance upon the subject.
Government officials who were ques-
toned upon the Mitylene incident, de-
MED having any knowledge of the Brit
ish forces at Sigri. They said, however,
that detachment OF blue jackets may
possibly have laaned there for drill pur-
poses.
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. A dispatch
has been received from Constantinople,
stating that the occupation of the island
of Mitylene is an accomplished fact, and
it found an echo on all the continental
bourses today. The general opinion
seems to be that ii British forces had
not landed in the. f1eighborhood Of tire
Dardanelles, neither the foreign Office
nor the admiralty would have refused to
deny rumor calculated 70 awaken the
gravest apprehension in financial and
diplomatic circles.
A MORE STARTLING DISPATCH.
Late this evening another and more
startling dispatch came by telegraph
from Athens. 1t is that the Greek con-
suls at Mltylene and at Smyrna, have
wired the Greek government that thir
teen British men-of-war landed troops
and guns at Sigri, on Friday. and that
they have already strongly fortified the
place.
Lord Salisbury'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 significance of the first import
ance. Continuing, it adds, that the
island of Mitylene has a position of con-
siderable strategic Importance, al
though possessing little in the way of
Notifications.
The Daily News and Chronicle do not
If the reports are true, then the seizure
is a bellicose act of which Lord Sails
bury could hardly be carable.
UNEAsINEss IN PARIS.
PARIS, Sept. 14.-A decided feeling OF
uneasiness was caused in diplomatic
and financial circles here, by the receipt
of dispatch announcing that Sigri, on
the west coast of the island of Mitylene,
belonging to Turkey, and within easy
steaming distance OF the Dardanelles,
was occupied by detachment of Brit
ish troops or marines, landed there
from British ironclsd. The island is
within twenty-five miles of the Helles-
pont, has an area of 276 square miles,
and q pODulatiOn of 40 600 Tt has good
harbors and fertile SOIL
Upon the opening of the bourse here
this morning there was general weak
ness in prices, due to the report of the
action of Great Britain in landing troops
at Sigri. Under ordinary circum-
stances little or no credence
would have been placed in
this alarming rumor, but coupled
with the story broadly circulated that
Great Britain, in view of Russia g prac-
tical coercion of Turkey in regard to the
passage through the Dardanelles of ves-
sells belonging to her volunteer feet,
thought the occupation of the island of
| Mitylene would form the most advan-
tageous position from which Great Brit
ain could control the waters of the
Hellespont.
| THE FRANKFORT BOURSE AFFECTED.
| FRANKFoRT-o -oN-THE- MAN, Sept. IA
The report that Great Britain seized a
port on the island of Mitylene was cir
culated here this morning, and its
effects weakened prices on the bourse.