The Proposed New Mail Route.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 17 October 1891, Page 2

The Proposed New Mail Route.

Oun cablegrams mention a proposed new mail route via Salonica. This would mean abandoning Brindisi, which is situated on the southern portion of Italy in the Adriatic Sea, in favour of the ancient port of Thessalonica on the iiEgean sea coast of Turkey. It is asserted that this extra land carriage would shorten the mail time by six hours. Such a port would be out of the regular running of the trading steamers, and would entail a longer voyage upon them, unless another mail boat was employed between Thessalonica, or as it is now called Salonica, with Alexandria, which lies at the entrance of the Suez Uanal ; this, however, would probably be the case. The route does not seem to be approved of by the British Post Office, as the country around >'alonica is reported to be intested with brigands. The outbreak of these " gen tlemen of the road" has been very pronounced of late, and it is therefore not surprising that the route is hardly in favour with those who have the security of the mails to look after, Railway communication between Calais and Constantinople was only opened in August, 1888, and there is bound to be opposition on the part of those interested in the older lines. A saving of six hours will, however, win the day, when the road is guaranteed safe. The proposal to open such a route has a peculiar significance after the reported seizure of the island of Lesbos by the British, as such a position would be the one most necessary to secure the uninterrupted passage of the mails to India and the Colonies, the port and the island being situated in the same sea into which the straits of the Dardenelles open. The truth about the landing on Lesbos has not yet been made known.