Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-15
BANCROFT IS VERY PACIFIC
Little Dispatch Boat Has No Intentions Of
Forcing the Dardanelles.
SITUATION IN TURKEY IS NOW PEACEFUL
Policy of the state Department Has
Not Undergone Any Change
Series OF Sensational
stories Denied.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE closest in |
uulry fails to disclose ary change In the |
policy OF the State department toward the |
Turkish queg tion and in particular respect !
ing the movements Of the little dispatch !
boat Bancroft. From the first the State
and Navy departments have been reticent
on this subject and have refused to state
where the boat was going further than TO
make public the official orders to her com
mander. These orders directed him to re
port on arrival at Gibraltar to Admiral Self
ridge, commanding the European station,
and to take all further orders from him.
1t can be stated positively, however, that no
orders have gono forward since the original
instructions to Admiral Selfridge, nor are any
on the way now touching the future move
monts of tho Bancroft The vessel. upon
arrival at Gibraltar, was ordered by Admiral
Selfrldge to proceed to Smyrna and she Is
duo at that place in day or two The
Cincinnati Is also the way to the same
point. At Smyrna now Gsscmped the
flagship San Francisco, the Minneapolis and
the Marblchcad. The purpose of the gath
erng is to meet the Cincinnati and the Ban
croft, which bring out drafts Of new men
to take the places OF the sailors on the sta
tion whose terms Of enlistment are about
to expire, for II they are kept longer the
government must pay them extra compensa-
tion. The men relieved are to be placed on
will be taken by the Cincinnati, and the
Marblehead will come home.
Naval officers, one and ALL ridiculC the
idea that the little Bancroft viii undertake
TO force the passage OF the Dardanelles, for
this would be absolutely impossible single
banded, and even II she succeeded, she
would be helpless when she arrived off Con
stsntnople. The probability is that she has
been sent TO Turkey to serve whatever use
ful purpose she can, either as a dispatch
boat to communicate between the larger YES
sells OF the United States squadron or to
accommodate Minister Terrell. Undoubtedly
the minister would like to have near the
United States legation some vessel to serve
as a refuge for the legation people and
Americans in Constantinoplc in case of riot
ing. but It will be lcft to his discretion (and
Minister Terrell on numerous occasions has
shown that he can be trusted as to the
n cans by which he shall bring about II
concession desired from the sultan, with
whom he has much inluencel to get the
right Of way for the boat II he wants her.
Tho State department has preferred no re-
quest for her admission to the Dardanelcs,
and in Wow OF the sem-oncial announce
mont of the Porte that such permission
would not be granted, II is unlikely that II
would subject itself to the snub that might
be expected II demand were made. II is
regarded as probable that In the event OF
real disturbance at Constantinople. the
only in which the Bancroft could be
of the slightest use from any point of view,
through without serious objection, but in
the present aspect of Turkish affairs there
Is no reason to look for trouble.
NO FRENCH COOPERATION.
That part OF the Bancroft story alleging
that the French feet would cooperate In Sc
curing the passage Of the Bancroft through
the Dardanelles is absolutely without founda
tion, and it can be stated on absolute and
unqucStioned diplomatic authority that nc
negotiations to such an end ever have been
attempted. The essential features OF III,
entire story are discrcdited In diplomatic cir
ces. which believe that the published repor
originated In the fact that the Bancroft
admission to the Bosphorus is desired ant
that Minister Terrell will use the influence
he possesses with the Porte to bring II abou
by peaceful methods. hut will not persist 4
decided objection Is made. So far as thu
United States alone is concern d, the Euro
peHn powers have no objection to the pres
once of dispatch boat in the Bosphorus
the objectiol rs arising solely from the fac
that 1t might establish a precedent for Like
demands from other nations.
From the hest official sources II Is Learned
the movements OF the Bancroft have no
figured in any way in the cabinet meetings
held since the return of the president t.
this city, and equally good and strong de
malls can be entered as to all the sensa
tlonal features OF tie published report
Indeed the matter has not engaged the at
tention of the administrative of the Stat,
or Navy departments since sending ou
original orders to the commander OF tn,
European squadron. At no time was there
the slightest intention of undertaking tC
:orce a passage Of the Dardanclles, leas
of all at present, when almost daily cable!
bring the assurance of the Porte to some on,
OF the powers party to the treaty Of Paris
that reforms shall be initiated at once in tn,
disturbed provinces and that the Turkish
officials shall be held to a rigid rospons
bility for the maintenance Of order and the
protection of life and property in their re
spectiye provinces. The administration has
strongly recorded itself, notably in the
Venezuelan correspondence with Great Brit
ain as bound to refrain from interference
In European policies that do not directly con,
cGrn the United States and while II might hc
Eratihed were the Bancroft admitted TO tn,
Dardaneles for the benefit of Minister Ter.
rell II Is not disposed to make any issue
TIM Mnmll iLMl To cNmnllnaln tho sltllnIIn