Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1891. "Only a Few Sailors."

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 19 September 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1891. "Only a Few Sailors."

The landing of an English force on the island of Lesbos is now stated to be a mere nothing, " that only a few sailors had been landed from the British squadron for the purpose of i engaging in field-gun practise." We would draw attention to our having , stated probabilities existed that any step taken to secure such a valuable position would be sure to be passed over, until the place had been made secure from attack. We may rely that " more is meant than meets the ear" as we have the fact that the British squadron consisting of thirteen vessels were cruising in the neighbourhood, and that an armed force did land, the British Ambassador admitting so much in answer to the Porte. It is not customary to land sailors for field-gun practise on a foreign country's territory without permission, and knowing that the Navy had the whole island of Cyprus besides a very large portion of Egypt, within a day's steaming, upon which these marksmen could have been landed, the reason given for such landing is palpably lame and doubtful. We admit that the entrance of a force upon a neighbour's property to take possession and fortify it, would bfi more outrageous conduct, than the entering upon it for gun practise, and we muat therefore accept it as a fact that whatever England has done has been with the knowledge aud consent of Turkey. The claims for back instalments for the war indemnity that Russia is always able to make against the Porte, has no doubt led that sovereign to facilitate the passage of Russian ships through the Dardanelles, in fact we are now informed that the Czar has abandoned a large amount of those arrears in consequence of ennppssinns made, Thp island,

which has come so publicly under notice, is chieiiy occupied by Greeks, f id as the Turk must be aware, by opening of the Dardanelles, he has exposed Constantinople to attack, we shall learn, after a lapse of time, that he has willingly sold the island to | England so that she might -have the expense of defending her interests in the Mediterranean and so defending the interests of the Turk. We hold that the information in the first cablegrams is nearer correct than the last, and that the explanations now being macb are to give time, and to soften the step to Russian feelings. The action of Lord Salisbury in obtaining Lesbos, is on a par with the action of Lord Beaconsfield when, to secure the control of the Suez Canal, he purchased three million pounds worth of shares without the authority of Parliament. There is nothing more unlikely that the manouvei'ing has been executed as a warning, Lord Salisbury would not be likely to point out commanding positions to others to have the pleasure of bidding- for them afterwards, so that we are bound to believe that the future will show that Lesbos has passed to the control of England.

A ljl-SUOS ii ucU i3ta B Crimea F Black Sea C Crypns G Dardanelles D Crete