The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-19

creased if Necessary.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The grave
situation in the East was the topic of
discussion in diplomatic and official cir
Giles here to-day. In diplomatic circles
particularly, where the possibilities of
a general conflict in Europe are al
ways regarded as more or less i'm
minent, if any of the Powers became
engaged in war, the situation was
deeply considered.
Opinions differ as to the probable
duration of the conflict one promi-
inent officer of the navy inclined to
the belief that fighting would continue
for a short time. until the Powers of
Europe should decide that hostiilities
had proceeded far enough. when they
would step in and put it to an end.
If any advices were received in this
city to-day from the Representatives of
the Government in Turkey or Greece
they could not be obtained tonight.
Secretary Sherman had one dispatch
from Minister TerriI at CONSTANT
nople. 1t was in the State Department
cipher however, and has not been
translated.
During the day the Secretary had
call from the Turkish Minister who
remained with him a short time. The
Secretary declined to say what had
transpired between them. 1t is Gus
tomary when a state of war has been
declared or hostilites exist for the Min
lister of the Government interested to
notify the Government to which he is
accredited of such a condition of af-
fairs, and presumably that is what took
the Minister to the Secretary's house.
Secretary Sherman reiterated to-
night the statements he made to the
Associated Press representative last
night. that while the Government re-
GREETED the existence of war. Turkey
and Greece were SO far from us that it
was a ma Ter which concerned the
United States but little. The strictest
neutrality. he said, must be preserved.
The Secretary had no fear but that the
citizens of the United States would be
amply protected. Very few of them
are in the cities of ConstantinOple and
Athens.
Mustapha Bey. the Turkish Minister,
said tonight that he had received no
further dispatches from his Govern
ment. He is expecting word at any
time, however, as he probably will be
kept fully informed of what is taking
place
The Minister tonight expressed him
self as regretting that things should
have come to the present pass. Tur-
key. he declared, is for peace-peace on
honorable terms-and does not seek
war with any nation. The action of
the Greeks, he said, had made the
step taken by his Government a per-
fectly proper one. Greece had acted
on the aggressive and by the actions of
her soldiers had precipitated the con-
flict that now seems imminent Her
soldiers have invaded Crete, which is
Turkish territory, and had crossed the
frontiers on the inland. He expressed
himself as having no doubt of the out
come, and that Turkey would be tri-
umphant in the war if it should be
formally declared.
Baron Won Thielman the German
ambassador, declares that the intrust-
ing of Turkish subjects in Athens ts
the protection of the German Minister
has no significance whatever. 1t does
not mean that there is any alliance
between the German and the Turkish
Governments in their present status. as
has been intimated in some quarters,
but is simply a friendly act that is
customary in times when diplomatic
negotiations between nations are sus-
pended. He pointed out that during
the time that diplomatic negotiations
were suspended between Great Britain
and Venezuela as a. result of the
boundary trouble, the citizens of Great
Britain were placed under the pro-
lection Of the German Minister. Again,
during the war in 1877 and 1873 be-
tween Russia and Turkey the Russian
subjects We're entrusted to the protec-
ton of the German Minister, and the
ambassador added there were no alli-
ances between the countries
Up to this time there have been, so
far as could be learned, no consultation
with regard to reinforcing the fleet Of
the United States in Mediterranean
waters. Should the presence of ships
of war of foreign nations be required
in Turkish or Grecian waters to pro-
tect their citizens as a result of the
impending conflict the United States
could assemble a formidable fleet if
necessary. In the Mediterranean
luadron at this time the Navy De-
artment has four ships, the cruiser
san Francisco, the flagship on the sta
ton; the triple-screw cruiser Mime
apolis, and the cruiser Cincinnati and
the small gunboat Bancroft. The De-
troit is on her way to the Mediter-
ranean from the China station, and
now probably is somewhere near the
Red Sea- An addition to the fleet will
soon be made by the presence of the
Raleigh, which is getting ready to join
the European station. Other vessels
that might be used for service in Eu-
rope if necessary are the Montgomery,
Marblehead, Maine and Texas, all of
which are now on the Atlantic Coast.
The opinion exists, however, that the
presence of any number of war yes
sells will not be necessary.
SOMERSWORTH IN. H), April 49,
The police have obtained further strong
evidence connecting Joseph Kelly with