The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-05
SHE MAKES A NAVAL DEMONSTRATIONS
AGAINST TURKEY.
TO FORCE THE LATTER To TERMS
A Division OF the Mediterranean Fleet
Sent to Turkish waters Under Sealed
Orders-u rms Nation Does Not Per-
form Her Agreement h Customs nc
Smyrna Probably to be Seized-If Re-
This Extreme Measure Not Likely

Paris. October 31.-The officials OF the
French foreign Office confirm the re-
port that a division OF the French Med
iterranean fleet. composed Of three bat
tleships and two cruisers. under the
command OF Adrimal Caillard. has pro-
ceeded from Toulon to the Levant TO
make a naval demonstration against
Turkey.
a foreign office official. In communi-
eating the foregoing to the correspon-
dent here OF the Associated Press. said:
The squadron sailed with sealed or
ders. and proceeds first to a Greek port.
the island of SYRIA l think. where the
admiral will receive definite Instructions
as to carrying out his sealed orders.
i am not at liberty TO say what the
sealed orders are. but the seizure OF
the customs at Smyrna would probably
be n very effective way of convincing
the sultan that Frances patience is
exhausted. and that we 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 to that
extreme.
Our squadron will not reach the
Greek port before Sunday. The Turk
ish government has, thus. three days
of grace. and We trust. in the meantime.
TO receive complete satisfaction. We
have acted very CONSIDERABLY toward
Turkey, hoping, up to the last moment,
that she would carry out her engage
ments. and it is only now. when We
find that there is no serious indication
of her doing so, that We have reluctant
ly resolved to put stronger pressure to
bear in the shape of a naval
ton. II is now two months since the
French ambassador NJ Constants. left
Constantinople. His departure 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 internal situation in the Turk
iSh empire deferred US. for some time,
from taking drastic measures to enforce
our demands; but the dignity OF France
could not permit the present state OF
affairs to be prolonged indefinitely. We
sincerely hope the sultan will fully ap-
prec!ate the fact that we cannot any
longer be trified with and will relieve
US of taking further steps to safeguard
our interests"
The official was asked what would
Mapped in the event of the French
squadron being ordered to seize the
customs and if the Turkish authorities
resisted. and replied:
That is a very unlikely contingency,
but if it occurs / suppose we shall have
TO lombard the port. We do not want
bloodshed, and / do not believe there
Will be any occasion for it"
Late tonight the following dispatch
was received from Toulon:
The complete Mediterranean squad
ron returned to Toulon his evening and
anchored in the roadstead."
This would include Admiral CailIard's
division. whose departure has thus been
either countermanded or postponed. II
the dispatch be correct, il would imply
that the government has received news
from Constantinople since morning
which has not yet been divulged and
which has induced a change of plan.
1t was reported that Admiral Caillard
had been ordered to cruise within reach
of a ispat boat today for possible
further instructions, and II is signif-
cant that the torpedo boat destroyer
Hallabardo left Toulon at full speed
during the afternoon to rejoin the
| squadron.