The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-06
FRENCH IN SMYRNA
ADMIRAL CAILLARD,s SQUADRON is
REPORTED TO HAVE SEIZED
GREEK PORTS
HIS BASE IS At MITYLENE
NJ. DeIcasse's Reasons for Passing
over SaIonica and Beirut
A-e Set Forth at
Length.


PARIS. Nov. 5.-The following is the
dispatch received from Admiral Caillard:
"Mitylene, Nov. 5, IL: 40 a. m.-Armored
division arrived at Mitylene.
The dispatch does not mention any in
cident attending the landing, but it seems
certain that the French commander car
ried out his instructions, which were to
occupy three ports of the island and to
seize customs.
Admiral Caillard's squadron arrived off
island of Smyrna (Greeian archipelago
yesterday, and detached dispatch boat
which entered the port of SYRIA, and re-
ceived from the telegraph station batch
of dispatches containing definite inStruc-
tons from the French government These
dispatches directed Admiral Caillard to
proceed to the island of Mitylene, where
he will seize the customs at Midilli and
at another port.
The foreign office here has not yet re-
ceived the sultan's reply to the note pre-
Sented by M. Baptiste, counselor of the
French legation at Constantinople, fol-.
lowing out the instructions of NJ. Del
casse, the foreign minister, under date OF
Nov. g.
The correspondent here of the Associat-
ed Press is able to make the following
statement:
When the French government decided
to send a French squadron to Turkish
waters, it debated whether to seize the
customs at Salonica, Beirut 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 mad
visable. The oecupat;en of Salonica was
at once dismissed because it might create
the false impression that France was
aiming to reopen the Macedonian ques-
ton. The occupation Of Beirut was also
set aside owing to the French position
and interests in SYRIA where the popula-
ton looks upon France as it's protector.
The occupation of Beirut, therefore, was
certain to create efferNescence and Per
maps even rebellion. 81 Tt
Reason for Choosing Smyrna.
The choice of NJ. Delcasse, therefore, fell
upon Smyrna, which offers equal advan-
tages to the other ports without having
their political drawbacks, Saturday. how
ever, came the dispatch from M. Bastian
announcing the issuing of the sultan's
trade accepting the Lorand claim in its
entirety, as France demanded. This dis
patch slightly modified 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 a few days, produce the guaran-
tees which France demanded for Their
payment. The necessity for seizing big
customs therefore became less pressing.
although the necessity for occupying
Turkish territory in order to exercise
pressure and compel the sultan to con-
cede the demands regarding Turkeys els
regard of French treaty rights still re-
manned urgent. The government there
1ad fhof "A ord oh
occupy couple of ports ON the island of
Nitylene, which is close to Smyrna.
Should the governments impression, that
the sultan will satisfy the monetary
claims without delay, prove unjustified,
and the customs receipts of Mitylene fail
to meet the French claims, Smyrna may
yet be occupied.
The occupation of ports on the Island
of Mitylene is more convenient from
military point of view, as the French
cannot be easily disturbed on that island,
whereas Smyrna being on the mainland,
its occupation might cause more serious
developments than desired The French
government, however, rs hopeful that the
whole difficulty will very shortly be ar
ranged to its satisfaction, and hopes that
the treaty stipulations will be carried out
by the issue Of trades, such as giving GER
tain French schools permission to open,
which thus far has been withheld, and
also by giving official recognition,
throughout the Turkish empire, to dfplo-
mas issued by the French medical faculty
at Beirut, etc.
LONDON, Nov. 5-The British foreign
Office has had no request from Turkey
to fulfill the terms of the convention OF
1878, by which, in exchange for the ISL
and of Cyprus, Great Britain guaranteed
the integrity of the sultan's Asiatic pos
sessions.
FARIS, Nov. 6.-Telegrams from Toulon
report the utmost activity in the prepata-
lions to place a squadron in readiness for
any eventuality. The ships are taking
ammunition and supplies, including live
stock and everything necessary to re-
victual Admiral Caillard's squadron. The
battleship Charles Martel the third class
cruiser Calico and three large transports
are ready to sail. 1t is asserted that one
OF Admiral Caillard's ships has sub
marble On board.
The Echo de Paris asserts that M. Del
oasse has received a dispatch from NJ.
Bapst. counsellor of the French embassy
in Constantinople, saying that Admiral
Caillard informs him that he has seized
the customs Of the island Of MityleQe.