Evening journal., 1896-09-16
The Bancroft,s Mission.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16. -- The assign
ment of two additional warships to the
Mediterranean fleet is accepted as evidence
of a decisive move on tho part of the Eu-
ropean powers in dealing with the Turk
ish situation, and while it Is not admit
ted even yet that the Bancroft, which sail
ed yesterday, is under orders to proceed TO
the Bosporus there is no longer the
slightest question as to her mission. Tho
administration proposes she sha1 be tho
United States guardship off Constantine
pie, whether the porte grants the necessary
permission or refuses It. In case OF refusal
this government will hold that It has new
CT accepted the Berlin agreement as oX-
Guiding it from naval representation in
Turkish waters, and that, not being a
party to that agreement this country can
not be excluded under the laws Of nations
from due naval representation.
The departure OF the Bancroft, to be fol-
lowed in threo days by the Cincinnati,
bound for the same station, Is looked up
on in official circles as indicating some
new and unexpected move by this govern
ment in Turkish affairs The utmost Sc
oretiveness Is maintained relative TO the
destination of both ships and the real OBJ
ject of increasing the fleet already within
"a few hours sail OF the Levant That Tur-
key has not given this government per-
mission 10 send the Bancroft or any of its
war vessels through the Bosporus is not
denied, and just the object in dspatching
them, with the possibility of the pOrto's S
making n firm protest against their pres
ence, is not explained by the department.. 4
Especially in view of the circumstance
that Turkey, in response to our request to
permit a vessel TO pass the forts last Janu-
AIRY, expressly forbade her TO do so, gives
udditional interest to the attitude that
may bo maintained by the administration
with reference to Turkey. Tho fact that
both vessels have been supplied with charts
of the Bosporus and the waters near Con-
stantinople emphasizes tho strong impress
sion that eventually Minister Terrell will
have at his immediate call two vessels OF
war capabis of landing fairly largo force
for the preservation Of American lives and
interests around the United States lega-
ton.
Mr.. Terrell some weeks ago made an
urgent request that the Bancroft and some
other vessel Of her type be ordered to Turk
ish waters and stated that while Turkey
showed disinclinaton 10 give permits
it was not improbable, when they wer,
ready to proceed through the forbidden
waters, the necessary permission would bC
given. To force the BosDorus and anchor
these two ships Off the Turkish capita
would not be equivalent TO an unfriendly
act toward Turkey, i'm the opinion Of tb,
state department. officials. although thoj
prefer that permission DE given.
The departure of tho Barkcrust IS sait
TO have been fastened as the instance o
Secretary Olnoy, and il the Cincinnati oar
coal in time she will sail also before th'
close Of tho week Tho practice weasel viii
go first to Fayal for coal and thence vii
proceed to Gibraltar and on to the Levant
where she Is under orders to announce hel
arrival TO Minister Terrell. The Ctncin
natl being three times the size OF the Ban
croft and much faster, will proceed direct
ly to the Mediterranean and join the Ban
croft at Gibraltar.