The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-15
England Seizes and Occupies
the Island of Mitylene.
THE kay TO THE DARDANEllEs.
Thirteen Warships SwOop Down Upon
a Strategic Turkish Harbor.
The Sultan Probably Connived at the
sefzure-An English Fleet to Lie at
Anchor Within sixty Miles of Con-
stantinople to Checkmate the Cxsr.

LONDON, Sept. 1.-THE Daily News and
Chronicle do not believe the reports Of the
Slgrl seizure. If the reports are true then
the seizure is bellicose act of which Lord
Salisbury could hardly be capable.
LONDON, Sept. 14.-lntimation of the in
tention of the British government to oc-
oupy 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 William Whites
audience with the sultan on Friday last.
Nothing about it, however, appeared in
the European newspapers until the Con-
stantinople cable startled the bourses and
the public today. The reports were
at first treated as incredible, and are still
held to be of doubtful authenticity; at least
exaggerated. In the absence of foreign
office confirmation of the reports, and
until details of the action of the British
warships are known, the full 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 occupa-
ton of some point within striking
distance of the straits and offering good
harborage for feet Tenedos and Besika
bay, where the feet rendezvoused from
1876 to 1878, have been surveyed recently
and were reported to the admiralty ad-
verseiy. The offer made to the sultan re-
vlved the question which the British gov
ernment made in 1877, prior to
the acquisition of Cyprus, to pur-
chase an island near the Dardanelles. This
project was long the subject of negotia-
tions, and was abandoned on the signing
of the Anglo-Turkish convention in June
1873. The seizing of Sigri, therefore, can
not have occurred without the connivance
of the sultan. An official announcement
was issued in Constantinople yesterday
that complete entente had been arranged
between Sir William White and the sui
tan, but the terms of the restored harmony
are not mentioned.
The intimation that seizure of the island
would be followed by fertilization is modi-
fled by Berlin report tonight that Lord
Salisbury does not contemplate permanent
occupation of the island, but has designed
the movement rather as demonstration
to checkmate the Franco Russian game.
The movement accentuates diplomatic
crisis.
Admiral Hoskins, in command of the
British Mediterranean squadron, is about
to be replaced by Admiral Trion, who
hoisted the flag in 1857 on the Nile, and
who sailed from Portsmouth for Gibraltar
on Friday to take over the command.
startling dispatch comes by telegraph
from Athens. 1t is that the Greek con-
suls at Mitylene and at Smyrna have
wired the Greek government that thirteen
British men-of-war landed troops and guns
at Sigri on Friday, and that they have
already strongly fortified their position.
Lord Salisbury's chief private secretary
has returned Unexpectedly to London, and
is busy at the foreign Office.
The 50. James Gazette this evening saws
the startling news concerning the Island
of Mitylene obviously possesses political
significance of the first Importance. Con-
tinuing, it adds that the Island of Mity-
lene has a position of considerable STRAIT
egic Importance, although possessing lit
tie if any fortihcations.
As soon as the report of the occupation
of Mitylene by the British forces was re-
ceived here there was considerable excite
ment. Up to $50 p. IN. there was no Off
cial utterance upon the subject. Report
ers and correspondents by the score called
at the foreign Office and at the admiralty,
but the officials on duty declined to con-
firm the report that Great Britain had
taken action in the Dardanelles question.
CoNsTANrINoPLE, Sept. lit is stated
that the French and Russian ambassadors
here have received kilograms from their
respective consuls in Mitylene announc.
ing the occupation of Sigri. and stating
that guns had been landed and the inlet
surrounded with torpedoes.
A detachment of blue jackets and ma
rines, from British ironclad, accom-
panied by battery of light field pieces
and several Gatling guns, were landed YES
terday morning at Sigri, on the Island of
Mitylene, formally occupying that place
in the name of the queen of England.
There is good harbor at Sigri, and il is
supposed the British naval officers at Mity-
lene intend to fortify the island to make it
coaling station and rendezvous for Brit
ish Mediterranean fleets.
BUpA PEsTH, Sept. 4.-The Pssther
LIogds. doubtless inspired through it's ed
itor, Max Falk, says that Austro-Hun-
gary'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 expauding
through Bulgaria, advances by u shorter route
to the gaol she has in yiew-the seizure of Com
siantinople? England can compensate herself
with Egypt, but where is Austria's compensa-
ton? The powers ought not to hesi-
tate TO check Russia. Does Berlin?
The PeSther Ll0yd, in conclusion. saws II
has also become known from wordsdronned
here and there recently at st. Peters.
burg that in high official circles yarious
plans for capturing Constantinople have
been discussed in view of their great FEAST
bihty, owing to the advantage of modern
war equipments.
Mityleue, the ancient Lesbos, is an island of
the Grecian archipelago, belonging to Turkey.
separated from the east of Asia Minor bv a strait
from seven 10 ten miles broad; area, go miles
population, about 1000 The narrowest
part of the channel which divides il
from the hysian coast between the
Of Assos is about S miles wide. The island is of
irregular shape. ON the sonth il is indented by
two deep bays, called Ports Calloni and Iero.
the former extending 10 near the center of the
island. Its prominent points are Argenuuro
or the northeast; sigri on the west
distant GO miles from the DardaneiIcs:
and Maria on the southeast The surface
is mountainous and the soil fertile The chief
town, Castro, on the east coast, is port on the
steamboat route TO Constaniinople. The town
was considerably damaged by an earthquake in
are Greeks. The island has been in
the possession of the Turks since i469,
when il was taken from the Nenetians by Mo-
hammed Second. The island is famous in
climate is delightful; the summer cool and the
winter not severe. The Dardsnelles is the
strait that connects the sea of Aarmora the
ancient Propontis, with the hgean sea.
England Expects Trouble With America.
OTTAWA, Ont, sept la-A British army off,