The sun., 1896-09-16
THE B4NCKoF1,s MISSION.
II n PnssnRe to the Bosporun IL Refuset
Her, she VIII SIN tso On.

1T q FnsonGo to the hobporun 10 kSetupoo
Her, She VIII Stiii Go On.
WASHINGTON, Sept l5.-The assignment OF
two additional war ships to the Mediterranean
fleet is accepted as evidence Of q decisive move
on the part OF the European powers in dealing
with the Turkish situation, and, while 1t is not
admitted even yet that the Bancroft which
sailed to-day. is under orders TO proceed to the
Bosporus. there Is no longer the slightest ques-
tion as 10 her mission. The Administration
proposes she shall be the United States guard
shipeof Constnntiuople. whether the Porte
grants the necessary permission or refuses 1t.
In case OF refusal this Government will hold
that 1t has never accepted the Berlin agreement
as excluding 1t from naval representation in
Turkish waters. and that. not being O party to
that agreement. this country cannot be ex-
cluded, under the laws OF nations, from duo
naval representation there.
The departure OF the Bancroft this afternoon,
10 be followed in three days by the Cincinnati,
bound for tho same station. 10 looked upon in
official circles as indicating some new and un-
expected move by this Government in Turkish
affairs The utmost secretiveness Is maintained
relative to he destination of both ships and the
real object of increasing the feet already within
a few hours sail OF the Levant. That Turkey has
not given this Government permission to send
the Bancroft or any OF It's war vessels through
In despatchinE them. with the possibility of tho
Porte's making firm protest against their pres
ence. Is not explained at the department
Especially In view OF the Circumstance that
Turkey In response to our request TO permit O
vessel 10 pass the forts last January expressly
forbade her to do So gives additional interest TO
the attitude that may be maintained by the Ad-
ministration with reference to Turkey. Tho
fact that both vessels have been supplied with
charts OF the Bosporus and the waters near
Constantinople emphasizes the strong impres-
sion that eventually Minister Terrell will have
at his immediate call two vessels OF war capa-
BILE OF landing a fairly large forco for the pres
ervation OF American lives and interests around
tho United States Legation.
Mr.. Terrell some weeks ago made an urgent
request that the Bancroft and some other vessel
OF her type be ordered 10 Turkish waters and
stated that while Turkey showed a disinclina.
ton TO give permits, 1t was not i'm mproba BILE when
they wore ready to proceed through the forbid
these two ships of the Turkish capital would
not be equivalent to an unfriendly act toward
Turkey In the opinion OF the state Department
officials. although they prefer that permission
The general opinion Is that when both vessels
have reached the Levant the Porte VIII yield TO
permit viii be issued, At present all powers
that were represented at the Berlin Congress
maintain small ships, carrying guns OF reduced
calihre. and generally called guard vessels, i'm
mediately off Constantnope, ever ready TO land
crews at n signal from the legations. This Gov
ernment. however, has been deprived OF a war
vessel there, and should a revolt against the
present Sultan menace Americans, Minister
Terrell would be compelled 10 depend upon the
guard ships for protection.
1t Is said to-day that tho Government would
have sent the Bancroft last winter and perhaps
some other ships across the ocean, but for tho
protests from the Porte against such action and
the energy displayed by the Turkish Minister
In Washington In representing that Turkey
would regard insistance to be represented In tho
guard feet as exceedingly discourteous This
same Minister has conducted an energetic cor
respondence with the State Department recent
iy on tho same subject. His recall was an
nounced some months ago: but owing TO his
success in preventing the Administration from
sending a guard vessel to Constantinople his
period of oftice has been extended by the Porte.
Tho dspartnre OF the Bancroft Is said to have
been FASTENED at the instance OF Secretary
Olney and II the Cincinnati can coal In time
she will 'ail also before the close OF Tho week.
Tho practice vessel will go first to Fayil for
GOAL and thence viii proceed to Gibraltar and
on to ths Levant. whore she 10 under orders to
announce her arrival to Minister Terrell. The
Cincinnati being three times the size Of tho Ban
croft and much faster, will proceed directly to
the Mediterranean and ioin the Bancroft At Glib