New-York tribune., 1901-11-06
Turkish PORTS SEIZED.
THREE ON THE ISLAND OF MITYLENE
OCCUPIED BY THE FRENCH.
,,,rRAL cAILLARDS INSTRUCTIoNS-HIs
FLEET CONVENIENTLY CLOSE
TO SMYRNA


paris. Nov. 5-An official dispatch announces
che arrival Of Admiral Caillard's squadron this
-,oruing at the island Of Mitylene.
The following is the dispatch received from
ADMIRAL Caillard:
Nftylene. Nov. 3, 11:40 a. m.-Armored divi-
,o, arrived at Mitylene-
The dispatch does not mention any incident
s,ending the landing. but it seems certain that
.bs French commander carried out his instruc-
,oas, which were to occupy three ports Of the
STAND and to seize the customs.
One cruiser and three torpedo catchers got
,snaratea from the squadron, owing to the speed
y. the latter The dispatch boat Mouette which
,ed ioined the squadron. was sent to meet them
and TO accompany them to Mitylene.
Admiral Cailiard's squadron arrived off the
,s,on5 Of Svra (Grecian Archipelago yesterday
and detached a dispatch boat, which entered
-ba mort Of Syra and took from the telegraph
.o+;o, hatch Of dispatches containing definite
:r--nctions from the French Government re-
ua-s;ng carrying out the sealed orders which
e. BANDED TO the Admiral previous TO his
,.,r;ne Toulon. These dispatches directed Ad-
,,i-al Cairard 10 proceed to the island of Nifty
1o,s ia Turkish island of the Egean Sea), where
be will seize the customs at Aiidilli Ca port on
that island) and at another port
nh. E,o-eign Office here has not yet received
-. cnlran's reply TO the note which NJ. Bapst
counsellor OF the French Legation at CONSTANT
,s following out the instructions which the
.-anch Foreign Minister NJ. Delcasse, sent him
November 8. presented TO the Turkish Govern
,an- asking how Turkey proposes TO pay the
To-an6o claim and demanding the execution
~ the Sultan's trade on the subject; also re-
ouastfng satisfaction regarding Frances rights
b;ch are defined in various treaties, and which
:. soroa eases have not been respected and in
others have been encroached upon by Turkey
The correspondent here of The Associated
Press is enabled TO make the following state
rnent. When the French Government decided
10 send squadron 10 Turkish waters II de-
hated whether to seize the customs at Salonica.
gevroot or Smyrna, as it was realized that only
tbe receipts Of one Of these three big ports could
produce sufficient sum to pay off the french
claims without a long occupation, which was
considered inadvisable The occupation Of Sa-
onica was at once dismissed. because it might
create the false impression that France was
aiming 10 reopen the Macedonian question The
occuuation Of Beyroot was also set aside, owing
to the French position and interests in Syria.
where the population looks upon France as lis
protector. The occupation Of Beyroot, there
fore was certain to create effervescence. and'
perhaps even rebellion The choice OF NJ Del
casse consequently fell on Smyrna. which Of
fers equal advantages to the other ports, With
out having their political drawbacks Saturday,
however came the dispatch from NJ Bapst an
nouucing the issuing Of the Sultan'S lrade ac-
eepting the Lorand claim in its entlrety, as
France demanded This dispatch slightly mool-
fed the ASPECT of the situation, inasmuch as NJ
Delcasse came to the conclusion that the sultan
would now settle the money claims, and WOULD
within few days, produce the guarantees winch
France demanded for their payment The ne
cessty for seizing big customs therefore became
less pressing. But the necessity for occupying
Turkish territory. in order 10 exercise pressure
and compel the Sultan to conce0e the demands
respecting Turkeys disregard Of French treaty
rights stfu remained urgent. The government,
therefore decided that Admiral Calllard ShOuiu
occupy q couple of ports on the island OF Nifty
lene which is conveniently close TO smyrna
So should the governments impression that the
Sultan win satisfactorily settle the monetary
ouestio7s without delay prove unjusJIned. ana
the customs receipts at Aityiene not suffice TO
meet the French claims, Smyrna can yet be
occupied
In the mean while the occupation Of the ports
on The island Of Mitylene is more convenient
from a military point Of view, as the French
cannot be easily disturbed On that island
whereas Smyrna being the mainland, its oc-
cuuation might have more serious developments
than desired. The French Government, how
ever trusts that the whole difficulty VIII short!y
be arranged TO its satisfaction. and hopes that
the treaty stipulations viii be carried out by
the issue Of trades, such as giving certain
French schools permission to open, Whlch thus
far has been withheld. and also by giving OFF,
cial recognition throughout the Turkish empire
10 diplomas issued by the French medical rae
ulty at Beyr0ot.