The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-20
MAY DEMAND PAYMENT
Battleship Kentucky Directed to
Toueh at a Turkish Port
Orders Sent to the Commander of
the Vessels En- Route to Manila Re-
Earded "A. Significant in View of
the SultRn's Delay I'm Settling
the Armenian Indemnity Claims.

Orders of a significant character in
the United States TO secure payment of
the $4,000 demanded of Turkey for the
destruction of the American property in
the Armenian troubles were issued by the
Navy Department yesterday. A telegram
was sent to Naples to be delivered to
Capt. c. NJ. Chester, of the Kentucky, on
his arrival there directing that the bat
tleship touch at Smyrna. Beyond this
fact no Information covering Captain
Chcster's instructions were obtainable.
Smyrna was not on the original itinerary
of the Kentucky.
Since the controversy with the Turkish
Government over the Armenian claim be-
come acute American warships proceeding
to and from the Philippines have. by speci-
fic directions, carefully avoided Turkish
ports. The important bearing on the in
demnity question of the orders to the
most powerful battleships of the Ameri-
can Navy to stop at Smyrna at this time
cannot be overlooked.
One explanation of the orders is that
would be good thing to have the Ken
lucky stop at European ports where the
Stars and Stripes have not been seen for
long time. In support of this. attention
is called to the fact that the Kentucky is
to stop at Naples, which was not in her
original itinerary.
This attempt at an explanation serves
only to increase suspicion rs to the pur-
pose of the Kentucky, particularly as the
Government was only ZOO willing some time
ago to permit the circulation of an er-
roneous impression that American warships
were going to Smyrna to demand the pay
meat CT the Armenian indemnity under
threat OF bombardi1g the town or taking
possession OF the cust,rn house. The Sui
tan was no. impressed by this report, AL
no doubt regards it as emanating from The
Washington Government for the purpose Of
frightening him into paying the 100000. In
the present instance, however, there is no
doubt that the Kentucky will stop at
Smyrna
The Kentucky left New York on October
10, for Manila. where she will take the
place OF the Oregon on the Asiatic station.
Her commanders Instructions were to pro-
coed with despatch to the Philippines. Last
week she stopped at Algiers for coal, and
left there Saturday for Naples. From
Naples she will proceed to Smyrna 1t was
OF several days at the Turkish port. The
Kentucky and her sister ship. the 1Kear-
sarge, are the only vessels of the navy that
have the superposed. or double deck. tur-
rets. and with the Alabama, are the most
powerful vessels of the American Navy now
in the service. With an Oriental mosque
as target, an excellent opportunity Of
testing in practical way the effect of the
concentrated fire of the big guns would be
Afforded rffi ic IN cd
init that such test will be the outcome of
the big armorclad's visit to Smyrna.
The Sultan of Turkey has made several
promises that he would pay the indemnity.
On three separate occasions he said err
sonally to Oscar Straus, the American
Minister at Ccnstantinopls, that payment
would be forthcoming but declined 20 set
q date. When told that MIR. Straus lad
made statement to that effect the Sultan
said that the American Minister had OBJ
tanned an erroneous impression of his ex-
preston Of willingness to pay If ii were
determined that the Turkish Porte was
responsible for the destruction of Ameri-
can property in Armenia. He concluded
that Turkeys responsibility had never
been proved.
Later the Sultan personally acknowl-
edged to Lloyd C. Griscom, Charge
d'Affaires at Constantinople, in Mr.
Straus' absence. that the Turkish Gov
eminent was liable for the outrages to
Americans in Armenia. and promised to
pay the indemnity asked, although declin-
ing to set a date when payment would be
made, Since then Mr.. Griscom has made
q practice Of calling nearly every Satur-
day at the Sublime Porte and pressing the
claim, always receiving the most cordial
assurances that the Sultan's promise
would be fulfilled. Beyond directing ar.
(yriRcnm hn
Government has taken no action of
Diplomatic nature.