Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-11-06
FRENCH TAKE THE PORTS.
French Warships Seize Customs Ports
of Turkey and Will Handle
the Funds Awhile.
Occupation Of Turkish Territory Will
Continue Until the Sultan
Comes to Time.
Reasons Given by the Government for
Not Taking More Important
Ports at This Time.

Paris, Nov. 6.-An official dispatch
announces the arrival of Admiral Gail
lard's squadron at the island of Nifty
1ene.
Admiral Caillard has occupied the
three principal ports of the Island of
Mitylene.
Admiral Caillard's squadron arrived
off the Island Of SYRIA (Grecian archi-
pelago) Monday and detached a dis
patch boat which entered the port of
SYRIA and received from the telegraph
station a batch of dispatches contain
ing definite instructions from the
French government regarding carry
ing out the sealed orders which we're
handed the admiral previous to his
leaving Toulon. These dispatches d.
rected Admiral Caillard to proceed to
the Island of Mitylene, where he will
seize the customs at Midilli and at an
other port.
The foreign office here has not yet
received the sultan's reply to the note
presented by NJ. Bapst, counsellor of
the French legation at Constantinople,
following out the instructions of M.
Delcasse, the foreign minister, under
date Of Nov. 8. The correspondent
here of the Associated Press is able to
make the following statement:
When the French government de-
cided to send a French squadron to
Turkish waters it debated whether to
seize the customs at Salonica, Bel
rut or Smyrna, as it was realized that
the receipts of one of these three big
ports would be required to produce a
sufficient sum to pay off the French
claims without a long occupation,
which was considered inadvisable. The
occupation of Salonica was at once
dismissed, because it might create the
false impression that France was aim
ing to reopen the Macedonian ques-
ton. The occupation of Beirut was
also set aside owing to the French po-
sition n interests in Syria, where
the population
Looks Upon France as Its Protector.
The occupation of Beirut, therefore,
was certain to create e~fervesence and
perhaps even rebellion. The choice
OF M. Delcasse, therefore, fell upon
Smyrna, which offers equal advan-
tages to the other ports without hav-
ing their political drawbacks. Satur-
day, however, came the dispatch from
NJ. Bapst announcing the issuing of
the sultan's trade accepting the Lo-
rand claim in its entirety as France
demanded. This dispatch slightly mod
flied the aspect of the situation, mas
much as M. Delcasse came to the con
clusion that the sultan would now set
tie the money claims and would, with
In a few days, produce the guarantees
which France demanded for their pay
ment. The necessity for Selling big
customs therefore became less press
ing although the necessity for occupy
ing Turkish territory in order to exer-
else pressure and compel the sultan
to concede the demands regarding Tur-
keys disregard Of French treaty rights
still remained urgent. The govern
ment. therefore, decided that Admiral
Caillard should occupy a couple of
ports on the Island of Mitylene, which
is close to Smyrna. Should the gov
ernment's impression that the sultan
will satisfy the monetary claims with
out delay prove unjustified and the
customs receipts of Mitylene fail to
meet the French claims Smyrna may
yet be occupied.
AAS O11updSion VI pO1IS Ou tu6 1871
and Of Mitylene is more convenient
from a military point OF. view as the
French cannot be easily disturbed on
that island, whereas Smyrna, being on
the mainland, its occupation might
have more serious developments than
desired. The French government,
however. trusts that the whole diff.
Guilty will shortly be arranged to its
satisfaction and hopes that the treaty