Evening star., 1896-10-15
ONLY BY CONSENT
The Bancroft Will Not Force tht
Dardanelles.
HER MISSION IS ONE OF PEACI
The Boat is for the Convenience
of the Minister.
ABS URD RJ NJ O. RS DENIED

There Is the highest authority for the
statement that the mission of the miniature
battle ship Bancroft to Turkish waters Is
of an entirely pacific and peaceful charac-'
ter and that her movements will be care
fully regulated so as to avoid onense or
objection on the part of the Turkish au-
thorities or the parties to the agreement OF
Berlin.
The sensational report th& the Bancroft
is under orders to proceed to Constanti-
nople regardless of the wishes Of the porte
and in the face of its expressed objection
Is specifically denied at the White House
and at the Navy Department.
There is every reason for the belief, how
ever, that the Bancroft will eventually
lind safe anchorage near the Turkish capi-
tai for such use as the United States min
lister may find for her, but it is said there
is no possible likeliho Cd of such a step
without first securing the assent OF the
Turkish authorities, which. ii is under
stood. Minister Terrell confidently expects
to obtain
Force Not to BE Used.
AS to attempting TO force a passage
through the Dardanelles, all naval author
tiles agree that the Bancroft is about the
last vessel in the navy that would be
selected for such purpose. AS one naval
officer put 1t: There would be about as
much sense in trying to pass the Turkish
fortifcations with row boat with the
Bancroft" ,
The arrival of the Bancroft at Smyrna
completes the =assemblage of the European
feet at that port. The other vessels of the
fleet are the flagship San Francisco, the
Minneapolis. the Marblehead and the Gin
cfnnati The last named vessel arrived
there yesterday from Gibraltar, and is to
take the place of the Marblehead on the
European station. The Narblehead is to
receive all the men whose terms have ahodt
expired. and bring them to the United
States. 1t IS expected that she will start
for home m few days. The Cincinnati
and the Bancroft, which have just gone out
from the United States, carried a draft of
100 men to take the places of the rIen
transferred from the vessels to remain on
the station. $50
'r No Orders ISSUED.
Admiral sesfridge is in personal COM
mand Of the fleet on the San Francisco
and. according to a statement made at the
Navy Department today, he will regulate
the movements of his vessels according tt
his own Judgment, having full discretion
On, the matter
~-1t is stated in the most positive terms
at the Navy Department that he has nc
instructions from the department regard
ing the Bancroft or any other vessel OF
his command that would Justify him III
hntagonizing the Porte or any of the
parties to the Berlin agreement.
1t Is admitted that the Bancroft was sen,
10 the Med tsrranean at the special instance
of Minister Terrell upon representations
that vessel of her light armament wouIo
be of great service to him in case of rot
ing In Constantinople, or the immedia tt
vicinity, threatening the lives of the mem
Gers OF the legation or the American resi-
deDts- ~-----
Aon-Interference.
1t is understood, however that the minis
ter and the naval commander have beer
OF acting with extreme caution ard 20 do
nothing involving the slightest departure
of the general policy of the United States
against Interference in the affairs of for
eign countries, without specific instruc
tions from Washington.
Therefore. while the Bancroft NAV even
tually become the American guardship a,
ConstantinoDle, it will be with the assent
OF the porte and the parties to the Berlin
treaty. and not otherwise. According to q
nigh authority. there is less reason for g
hostile demonstration against The Turkish
capital tnan there was many months ago
when the Armenian troubles We're at thei1
height.
At no time has there been the slightes
intention of undertaking to force passag
OF the Dardanelles, least of all at present
when almost daily the cable brings the as
powers party to the treaty of Paris that re
forms shall be initiated at once in the dis
turbed province, and that the Turkish off
cials shall be held to a rigid responsible,
for the maintenance of order and the pSo
lection of life and property in their respec