Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-11-07
Number26
1HE TURKISH SITUATION
A French Squadron May Seize the
Port of Smurna.
NO NEWS FROM FRENcHADMiRAL
Absence OF News Is Not Surprising,
As He Avoided Ports to Prevent
His Movements Being SignaIcd.
Powers Sending Vessels to Scene.

His Movements Being signaled.
Powers Sending Vessels to Scene.
Paris. Nov. 1.-The officials of the
French foreign Office confirm the re.
port that q division of the French
Mediterranean fleet. composed of three
battleships and two cruisers, under
the command of Admiral Caillard. has
proceeded from Toulon to the Levant.
to make naval demonstration against
Turkey.
A foreign Office official. in commun-
eating the foregoing to the cores.
pondents here. said:
THE squadron sailed with sealed
orders. and proceeds first TO a Greek
port. the island of Syra. | think. where
the admiral will receive definite in.
structions as TO carrying out his sealed
orders. | am not at liberty to say
what the sealed orders are; but the
seizure Of the customs at Smyrna
would probably be a very effective
way of convincing the Sultan tcat
Frances patience is exhausted. and
that we have decided to enforce an i'm
mediate execution of the Turkish gov
ernment's engagements. We, how
ever. are very hopeful that the Sui
IAN will not compel us to go to that
extreme"
The official was asked what would
happen If the French squadron was
ordered to seize the customs and the
Turkish authorities resisted, and he
replied:
THAT is a very unlikely contingen
cy, but if it occurred suppose we
should have to lombard the port, But
we do not want bloodshed, and do
not believe there will be any occasion
for 1t to occur"
A despatch received from Constan-
tinople on Saturday said the Sultan
had decided to pay the claims in dis
pute, and also to observe the various
treaties between France and Turkey.
On Sunday M. Delcasse, minister of
foreign affairs, telegraphed NJ Rapst,
of the French embassy in Constan-
tinople. directing him TO present to
Tewfik Pasha, Ottoman minister OF
foreign affairs. note asking how the
Turkish government proposes to pay
the Lorando claim and demanding the
execution of the Sultan's trade deal
ing with that matter.
The note will also require satisfac.
tion regarding the rights of France
which are defined in the various capt.
uiations and treaties, and which in
some cases have not been respected
and in others have been encroached
upon by Turkey
Admiral Caillard reached his des-
tination Sunday. The foreign Office has
received no news from him since his
division left the other divisions OF
the Mediterranean squadron en- route
for Turkish waters four days ago. 1t
is pointed out that the absence of
news is not surprising, as the instruc-
tions to Admiral Callard were to
steer due south and to avoid passing
in sight OF Bonilacio, Corsica, or ira
versing the Strait of Messina, in order
to prevent his movements being sig
nailed.
Dispatches from Rome assert that
the second division of he Italian
Mediterranean squadron, Which, as an
nonDced on Saturday, left Tor Turkish
waters with the suppos 4 object o.
counterbalan, ing he French nava,
demonstration, will join the first divi-
sion. which has been cruising in tha
Eastern Mediterranean for some time.
1t appears also that the Greek war
ships Psara, Hydra Spetsai and iHu.
rotas are now at SMYRNA, where is
also the Russian Mediterranean squad
ron. 1t is believed thai the Britisl
squadron, now at Piraeus. Greece. vii
be ordered to proceed to L, irJu.
SYRIA