EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3915, 17 September 1891, Page 2

EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

The Eastern Difficulty. British, Occupation of Sigri Coaarmed, What the Times SaysAn Official Denial. (United Press Association.) Athens, September 14. The Greek Consuls at Mitylene and Smyrna announce that on Friday last 13 ships landed troops and guns at bigri, situated on the western side of the island, and having hoisted the British flag, began to fortify the place.

The Russian and French Consuls at Mitylene confirm the occupation, and report that a small isle off Sign was afterwards occupied and surrounded by torpedos. Caiho, September 14. The seizure of Sigri has occasioned an immense sensation here.

Paris, September 14,

The Parisian evening papers tonight comment on England's reply respecting tbe Dardanelles question, in which the Marquis of Salisbury declared that Russia had no exclusive right to the Dardanelles. London, September 15.

The Times considers the alleged occupation of Sigri by the British preposterous, and that it is simply a Bourse trick either to create a fall in Turkish securities or to prevent the issue of the Russian loan.

Both the Foreign Office and Admiralty deny any hostile occupation of Sigri, but consider it possible, that with the permission of the Porte, a few British seamen were landed there for recreation or gun practice. Stocks, which were temporarily depressed by the news of the occupation of Lesbos, are rising again. The situation is causing alarm to the European Powers. Rome, September 15. It is rumoured that England and Italy are parleying jointly upon Eastern affairs.

The Exercito, a military organ, counsels the Government to prepare for war, and subordinate everything to this necessity.