Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-10-15
THE BANCROFT
Must Not Be Stopped on Her
Way to Turkey.
Ordered to Go Ahead Regardless Of
Any Protests by the Sultan.
rhe English Fleet VIII No Doubt Back Up
the American Commander II Occasion
Arises-Adm. selfridge Will Also
Come to the Bancroft's Aid.


States practiceship Bancroft, whose
departure for European waters has
been the subject of profound mystery,
is to play an important part in the eff.
forts of the powers to bring about q
settlement of the Turkish question.
The little vessel is to force the Darda-
nelles with Minister Terrell standing
on her deck, and if any obstacles are
placed in the way by the Turkish forts
the Mediterranean fleet. under Adm.
Selfridge, now $50 miles away, will
come to her assistance. The British
feet will, no doubt, be near at hand to
back up the American commander il
occasion arises.
From the highest authority it is
learned that the powers have agreed
to the programme and not only will
offer no objection or resistance to the
entrance of the Bancroft to the Golden
Horn, but will aid her If necessary.
The decision to send the Bancroft to
Constantinople was reached some
weeks ago just before her departure
from Annapolis us training-ship, but
received its seal Tuesday after the
cabinet meeting, when orders were
sent to her commander to report at
once to Minister Terrell on arriving at
Smyrna and there follow his instruc-
tions. Adm. Selfridge has been in
formed by cable that he may expect
the Bancroft in the next few days and
to cable Mr.. Terrell at the American
legation at Constantinople at once
when she arrives
Capt. Belknap, of the Bancroft, on
receiving Mr.. Terrell on board, is to
sail for Constantin ople, and pass the
Dardanelles no matter what may hap
pen. Minister Terrell is to take up his
residence on board the vessel, which
will become the official guardship of
the United States. ' FH'
The ship will proceed to Chanak. No
formal request is to be made for the
privilege of entering the sea of Mar
mora, and no opportunity will be
given the porte to exercise the power
of denial. The report that frman
had been refused to the officers in
Constantinople is inaccurate, as no au-
thority has been sought recently, and
none will be. The statement from
Minister Terrell will be positive, and
will leave no grounds for discussion Of
the subject ~
The advices from Minister Terrell
have lately been of such a character
that there has. appeared no better plan
to pursue than the one which would
place the Bancroft, the armed repre-
sentative of the government, in the
Golden Horn.
The reliance on Capt. Belknap's dis
cretion is not limited. He Is under
stood to have orders to convey Minis
ter Terrell to Constantinople despite
the menacing Notifications on each
side of the strait to the secret sea of
the Turks.
1t is not expected the Turkish author
tiles, on learning the purpose of Minis
ter Terrell, will resist forcibly the ap-
proach of the Bancroft to their capital.
Naval officers and diplomats in Wash
ington do not look for any active hos
tility. They expect that the Turk
ish displeasure, if evinced at all,
will find expression in the convention
al firing OF Dardanelles gun across
the bow of the Bancroft. This will
answer the purpose of advising the
Bancroft's commander that he is en-
croaching upon forbidden waters, an
that persistence is at his risk, and the
responsibility Of his government.
The present plan was not devised
and adopted on the responsibility OF
this government alone. 1t is known to
have the sanction, if not the practical
support, of the European powers,
which are concerned in the Turkish
question. The Russian government
even has given its consent.
This circumstance is important In
the extreme. It has a significance be.
yond the simple Endorsement of the
foreigners Many of the ships of the
European navies are assembled al
Smyrna. They have no right, and evi
IDENTIFY will not pretend to pass the
Dardanelles. They will, however, be
within convenient call, and an attack
upon the Bancroft would surely lead
TO action. The United States ships
would engage the Turkish fortifica
tions without delay, although this
governments entire naval force in the
Mediterranean is not formidable.
This will not be the first time ar
American ship has broken through the
Turkish lines.
According to the Berlin treaty, sub
seuuently modified, but not substan
TALLY, each of the powers is allowed
one small war vessel (six guns being
the limit in the Golden Horn, for th'
protection of foreign residents. NJ
larger war vessel can pass the Oar
danelles without the assent OF tn,
| porte.
| The United States was not party t
this European convention, and there.
fore need not ask the porte's approval
The Bancroft is just within the.size, il
displacement, armament, men, etc, o
the vessels specified in the treaty. TIL,
cruiser Cincinnati was expected t,
arrive at Smyrna Wednesday, at the
time the Bancroft will reach there
| The other American warships off thu
| Dardanelles and commanded by Adm
Selfridge, are the Minneapolis, Mar
blehead and San Francisco, wi4hin cas-,
distance call The French feet a
anchor consists of 1S vessels.