NEWS OF THE WEEK.
TATE on Monday afternoon, all the Stock Exchanges in Europe were startled by telegrams stating that the British fleet had occupied Sign, an islet by Mitylene, had landed troops, and had " surrounded " the islet with torpedoes. The news, it was said, had been received from the French, Russian, and Greek Consuls ; and incredible as it must have seemed to sane men, it was believed. It was, said the politicians. the rejoinder made by Great Britain to the recent success of the Russian Ambassador in Constantinople, Mitylene, the ancient Lesbos, seventy miles from the Darda- nelles, offering the best harbour for a squadron destined to atop any Russian fleet issuing from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean. There was, of course, no truth in the report, though it would seem that the Captain of a British man-of-war did land some sailors, and get through some practice with torpedoes. The Consuls in Mitylene probably blundered, and the news was snapped up by Jews anxious to discredit the forthcoming Russian loan in Paris ; but the Continent is evidently getting nervous. There is an idea, which is in Germany and Austria half a wish, that something will happen shortly in Constantinople which will compel Great Britain to "act," and so bring on the long. .expected war.
