The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-05
TO TEACH THE TURKS.
MAY FORCE THE PASSAGE of THE
DARDANELLES.
BosphOrous Likely to Be the Des-
tination of the North Atlantic
Squadron of American BattIeships.

CHICAGO, Jam ga special to the
T4mes-Herald from Washington says:
Warships flying the stars and stripes
and manned by American blue jack
cts, may force a passage of the OAR
danelles and Bosphorus, anchor at
ConstantinopIe and show the sultan
that Uncle Sam is not to be trifled with.
1t transpires today that the Bospho-
rus is likely to be the destination of
the North Atlantic squadron of Amer
lean battleships instead of the Carri-
beam sea. According to the plan ar
ranged by Secretary Herbert and Ad-
miral Bunce, the squadron should have
sailed from Hampton roads for St.
Thomas December q.
Though every ship was ready for sea
ON that date, the fleet of seven vessels
has been held for some reason which
the secretary of the navy has de-
clined TO reveal and which the officers
of the fleet have not known.
1t is now stated Admiral Bunce,
when he visited Washington December
10 was given sealed instructions which
postponed the southern cruise pending
certain developments in Turkey. Now
the cruise in southern waters may be
abandoned altogether and the vessels
may set sail for the Mediterranean at
almost any hour.
The government proposes, unless Tur
key responds promptly to the demands
for 100000 indemnity made on account
of the Kharpoot and Marash outrages,
to make naval demonstration that
will bring the sultan to time. In its
previous experience with Turkey, the
government has found that the sui
tan does not respond to such demands
easily. This is the case where the
dignity and prestige of the United
States is believed to be at stake and
the sultan will not be permitted to
practice his customary evasion and
deceit.
The American ships now in the
Turkish waters are the Marblehead,
at Mersine today and the San Fran
cisco and Minneapolis, in the vicinity
of Alexandretta. They are under COM
mand of Admiral Selfridge, aboard the
San Francisco, Minister Merrill at
Constantinople, and Admiral Selfridge
at Alexandretta, have been in almost
daily communication by cable with
Secretary Olney and Secretary Her
bert. Secretary Herbert had a long
consultation yesterday with the presi-
dent about the situation In Turkey.
On December 16 a cable was received
at the state department from Con-
stantinople which Secretary Olney
sent in substance to- the Senate. He
said:
Minister Merrill expresses the gray
est apprehension concerning the ulti-
mate fate of American citizens in the
disturbed region unless the appalling
massacres can be stopped by the unit
ed efforts of the Christian powers. He
sees no hope, however, of a European
concert to that end. He says il the
for all to the sea coast, whereupon the
men can return, but he adds that the
women and children should quit Tur-
key.
Three weeks ago a message was re-
ceived at the navy department from
Admiral Selfridge stating his inability
to carry out certain instructions which
had been sent him. This first suggest
ed to Secretary Herbert the wisdom of
sending more vessels to Turkey. When
Minister Terrell filed his demand for
indemnity for the Kharpoot and
Marash outrages, the GOODNESS with
which they were received by the sui
tan's ministers. indicated at once that
they would not be willingly complied
with, and this proved still further the
Importance of an enlarged naval force.
The departure of the North Atlantic
squadron for the Mediterranean will
be governed wholly by the news receiv-
ed from Mr.. Terrell next week. Mean
time the fleet will not sail for the
south and will stand at Hampton
roads in readiness for sea.