New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30
THE BANCROFTS MISSION.
,,rr1NG THE SHIP FOR HER VOYAGE TO
CONSTANTINOPLE.

LOWED TO PASS THE DARDANELLES?
washington. Aug. 29.-The Navy Department
X.s selected most OF the officers for the Turkish
.,,se Of the Bancroft. and their orders have
nan sent directing them to report on board the
..sssl as soon possible The officers Lieu
..rsnt-Commander c. Belknap, who is detached
,r,n the Naval Academy to command her; Lieu
,.,ant T +. Needer. detached from the Bureau of
roupment at Washington and ordered as execu-
five officer: Ensign 5. r. w. Kettelle. detached
rom the Vermont at New-York. and Assistant
pavmaster Richard Hatton. detached from the
Katahdin.
Considerable difficulty has been encountered in
securing engineer officers. the Department is
seeking only those officers who have not been to
sea for some time. and who will therefore be
available for full three years detail it appar-
entity being the intention to provide for contin-
gency which may possibly keep the vessel abroad
for a long time Other naval orders issued to-day
detached all the Bancrofts old officers and as
signed them TO duty at the Naval Academy.
II was practically decided this morning that the
vessel would have to he fitted for sea at the Brook
lyn Navy Yard. where she Will be sent
most of her officers reach her She will be imme-
diately locked and have her bottom painted, and
in all probability this will be the full extent Of
mas,s. with considerable sail power. and. If posi-
BILE they will be taken out OF her while she is in
the dock and two pole masts substituted. Tee-
grams endeavOrnG to secure such poles have
been sent out. Some question having arisen as to
the ability OF the Bancroft to carry enough coal
for trip to Europe without her auxiliary sail
power, the Bureau of Steam Engineering has in
vestigated the subject and has reported her fully
capable 1t Is probable that she will go by way Of
Halifax. the Azores and Gibraltar. involving
stretch CT not more than 900 miles in any single
voyage, this being the distance between Halifax
and Fayal The complement Of the Bancroft
heretofore 120 men. was to-day reduced to 1O1 to
give more room in the ship for the long voyage
and duty in Constantnople.
SECRECY AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
AT the State Department to-day II i'm
possible TO learn whether Minister Terrell has
succeeded in inducing the Sultan 10 grant per-
mission for the Bancroft to pass the Darda-
relles. All information is refused in the absence
81 Secretary Olney. but it is facetiously
planned that the Bancroft has probably been
selected because she is the only American yes
Sci powerful enough TO force a passage past the
forts Of the Bosporus
At the Navy Department a technical denial was
Qromu. gated 10 the extent &C declaring that the
mission Of the Bancroft devoid of
tiOnal or offensive features. and that her
duty when c1Uld not De dlFulGeu, hdd been
long IN contemplation. 1t is understood that
the Bancroft is TO have a consort on her voyage
across the ocean. for which purpose a cruiser
will be detached from Admiral Bunce's fleet
next week and assigned 10 the European squad
ron.
While assurances are made at the State De-
pariment that there is demand for the Ban
crofts visit 70 Constantinople al this juncture
other than has existed for some time past In the
recognized moral support that the presence OF
such vessel would give to the American Min
rrf11 4 TnQ
in case rioters got beyond the control of the
local authorities. the fact that an emergency OF
some kind does exist is indicated 10y the very
language f the act of Congress which author
ized the construction Of the Bancroft This law,
passed September Z. lSSN, expressly provided
flor the construction of one steel practice vessel
~ 500 tons for the use Of the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis. except when In
emergencies it may be used for other purposes
THE DEMAND FOR INDEMNITY.
"Wha, is the situation Of Harpoot indemnity?
Also Of Marash Indemnity"
These inquiries We're cabed 10y Secretary Oney
to Minister Terrell on January -. 1896. No salts
factory answer has yet been received The de-
mands Of the United States. both before and after
the destruction OF the American settlements at
the points named. were explicit. The official cor
respond nee shows that Admiral Selfridge on No
ve,nber 30 with the guns Of the United States
cruiser San Francisco within bombardng dis
lance Of Alexandretta. informed the Vail Of Alep-
10 that tha United States would hold the Turkish
Government to a strict accountability for the
burning Of the building belonging 10 the Ameri-
can mission at Marash. and for all other infrac-
tions Of the treaty between the United States
and Turkey
vernber Is 1880 that guard Of Turkish sol
diers be placed to protect the persons and prop
eriy Of every American missionary IN the Otto-
man Empire" and he added: Il am instructed by
ny Government to demand prompt payment for
the burning Of American property at Harpoot
The only answer which appears on record Is
from the Turkish Minister Of Foreign Affairs
TeW6k Pacha. 10 Minister Terrell, dated Deem
her 80, 1895. in which he claimed that the burn
ing If the school at Marash had originated within
he school itself by the firing OF some charcodl
and hay In the stables and that the alleged phi
lage Of the seminary and boarding school by sol
diers Of the Imperial Army was an entlrey uh-
Callcd-for calumny."
Conclusive evidence as the failure of the
Turkish authorities to protect American prop
erty both at Marash and Harpoot aiteF re-
peated requests had been made TO mat eheVt'
was supplied by Minister Terrell, ana 'he
United States repeated its demands for repara-
ton in the most peremptory manner .,
This was followed 10y a request FOR PERMISSION
for the Fan, roft 10 pass through the Sralis 81
the Dardaneles. which permission 'as alreauy
,od in these dispatches was retuSs WayEoven
Bey. the Turkish Minister here. on January
ii last
VIGOROUS MEASURES IN PROSPECT
Twelve DAYS later Mr. Olney telegraphed 10
Mr Terrell 10 know what was the SITUATION VI
the demand for indemnity. No satisfactory re-
ply having been received to these inquiries up
% date il would seem that more vigorous means
are now about 10 be TcsCrted TO- ,
Acting Secretary MCAdOO this afternoon sald
that under orders the Bancroft had received ii
new complement Of officers. that she Wou,u
leave Annapolls on Monday for Newly OrK,
where certain alterations would be made 10
improve her seagoing capacity. including the
removal Of one Of her masts, and that at lhe emu
Of Twelve DAYS she would be ready for sea Re
garding her destination or future duty ne De,
olined 10 commit himself but said that he had
never made any denial nor had he authorized
any one else 10 make a denial in his name OF