The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-24
AMERICAN WAR SHIPS IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN.

The appearance of the United States war
ships San Francisco and Raleigh before
Tangier seems to have had a very prompt
effect on Moorish manners. The Moors
have a semi civilization of their own, but
respectful treatment of foreigners is not
one of its traits and the idea seems, to have
prevailed at Tangier that Americans were
particularly good subjects for contumely
and abuse. No doubt this is partly because
the American flag in its full significance is
so seldom seen in that locality. The flag
floating lazily over legation or consulate
situated perhaps in some out-of-the-way
quarter of q city, is a very different thing
from the flag floating over a man-of-war a
few broadsides from which would lay a
city in ruins. The Moors seem to have ap-
preciated the difference very quickly, for
the dispatch says that from having been
for some time past very overbearing and
insulting towards Americans the Moorish
minister of foreign affairs had no sooner
sized up the San Francisco than he con-
cuded it would be the proper thing to call
on Admiral Selfridge aboard his ship-an
honor never before conferred on a for
eigner. 1t is to be hoped closer scrutiny of
the dimensions and armament of the San
| Francisco did not weaken the first impress
! sion she made his Excellency's mind.
The London correspondent who sends the
news says the particular trouble which
led to the ships being ordered there will
| soon be settled, and he adds:
The incident is being taken advantage of
n q a 6iSnI1W American force a a
| towns along the coast which will insure
| better protection and privileges for the
| Everything possible will be done to make
| such display as will impress the Moors
with the notion that in the future all just
| claims of Americans will be backed up if
necessary by shot and shell.
| This is an excellent idea. United States
war ships are not seen in Mediterranean
waters as often as they should be, and
| there are a good many people thereabout
to whom the sight of the San Francisco
and Raleigh might be instructive. Once be-
| fore, nearly hundred years ago, when
our navy was in it's infancy. though very
| robust infant, it became necessary to send
a squadron into those waters to discipline
| the Barbary powers. Then, now, the
Emperor of Morocco was one of the Offend
| ers, though the chief one was the Bey of
Tripoli. The commander of that expedition
| was Commodore Preble and the flag ship
| was the old Constitution. The fleet no
| sooner appeared before Tangier than the
| Emperor of Morocco disclairued all offensive
| acts and made a suitable apology. The de-
| faint attitude of Tripoi led to a war in
which the navy covered itself with glory,
| and which ended in Trpoli suing for peace
| after being severely punished. The ruler of
| Tunis was still insolent, but his pride was
suddenly humbled by the appearance of a
squadron of thirteen United States war
ships and he Immediately asked permission
to send an ambassador to the United States.
From that time the Barbary States all
feared the power of the Americans, and
the commerce of all nations in the Mediter-
ranean sea was much safer. Pope Plus VII
declared that the Americans had done more
| for Christendom against the North African
| pirates than all the powers of Europe
united That was before the day of iron
clads, but our wooden ships, led by the
| Constitution, the Constellation and the
| United States, were able to give the Moors
| and Tripoltans a lesson they did not soon
forget. Perhaps the tradition of that visit
still fingers in the capital of Morocco, for
| the mere appearance of the San Francisco
and Raleigh seems to have been sufficient