The age-herald., 1901-11-01
FRANCE SEEKS TOMAKE TURKEY PAY HER DEBTS War Ships Sail With Orders to Seize a Custom
 POrt SQUADRON RETURNS LATER This Would Imply,sThat the Govern ment Has Received News From constantlnopls Which Induced
 a Change of Plan.
SQUADRON RETURNS LATER

Paris, October 31.-The officials of the French Foreign Offlce confirm the report that a division or the French Mediterran- can fleet, composed of three battleships and two cruisers, under the command of Admiral Caillard. has proceeded from Toulon to the Levant to make a naval demonstration against Turkey. A foreign office official, in communicating the fore going to the correspondent here of the Associated Press. said:
 The squadron sailed with sealed or- ders and proceeds first to a Greek port on the island of Syra. I think, where the admiral will receive definite instructions as to carryinez out his sealed orders. am not at libeaky to say what the sealed orders are, but the seizure of the cus- toms at Smyrna would probably be a very effective way of convincing the Sultan that F{ance's patience Is ex- hausted and that we may have decided to enforce an immediate execution of the Turkish governments engagements. We. however, are very hopeful that the Sultan will not compel us to go that extreme"
 Sultan Has Until Sunday.
 Our squadron will not reach the Greek point before Sunday. The Turkish gov ernment has thus still three days grace, and we trust in the m meantime to receive complete satisfaction. We have acted very considerately toward Turkey, hop ing up to the last moment that she would carry out her engagements, and 1t is only now.2ghefS we find that there Is no serious indication of her doing so that we have reluctantly resolved to put stronger pressure to bear in the shape of a naval demonstration. It is now two months since the French ambassador, M Con- stants, left Constantinople. His depart ure failed to produce the desired effect. On the contrary, even the quays and Tubini questions which were settled by the sultan's trades. remain unsatisfied.
 The Sultan's trades remain unadjusted. The internal situation in the Turkish Empire deterred us for some time from taking drastic measure to enforce our de- rnands. But the dignity of France could not permit the present state of affairs to be prolonged indefinitely. We sincerely hope the Sultan will fully appreciate the fact that we cannot any longer be trifed with and relieve us of taking further steps to safeguard our interests
 The official was asked what would happen in the event of the squadron being ordered to seize the customs, and if the Turkish authorities resisted. he re- piled:
 That Is a very unlikely contingency, but if 1t occurs I suppose we shall have to Lombard the Porte. We do not want bloodshed, and I do not believe there will be any occasion for it..
 Movement Decided on Tuesday.
 The decision to make a naval demon stration against Turkey was taken up at a meeting of the cabinet Tuesday, at which M. Delcasse, the minister of for eign affairs, explained the Sultan's pro- crastination regarding the French de- mands.
 Admiral Cailliard's squadron consists of the armored cruisers Admiral Pothuau, Chanzy and La Touche-Treville, the sec- ond-class cruisers Duchayla and Cas- sard, and the third-class cruiser Galilee The crews aggregate 22S6 men. but the vessels will also carry landing parties.
 The newspapers approve the govern ments decision. The Journal des de Bats says:
 Every one at Constantinople and the other capitals must be aware that France and Russia are completely in accord on this matter. Under the circumstances 1t is difficult to believe that the Ottoman government will not come to it's senses and recognizing Is error, before it is too late, relieve us of the necessity of using other means than those of diplomacy and courteous discussion.
 La Liberte remarks that the fact that
 Admiral Caillard has embarked 2000 ma rines is warning to the Porte that France will not stop before slight show of resistance, but will go to the end even though war should ensue.