Washington sentinel., 1900-12-08
Settling With
tbe SuItans,

Aah VI NAhNI
He will have to pay up and apologize
or take the consequences.
The Kentucky IS one of the two big
gest ships In the United States navy
the other being the Kearsarge, They
are. probably, the most powerful ships
in the world.
The United States has now scores to
settle with at least two Mahommedan
Sultans, whose domInions border on the
Mediterranean Sea. One is the bloody
and crafty Sultan OF Turkey. The other
is the barbarous Sultan Of Morocco,
The Kentucky was ordered to the
Philippines recently to strengthen our
naval forces there. Her route took her
10 the Mediterranean, II is an essential
chara acteristic OF diplomacy never to let
the other fellow know exactly what you
are going to do. It was unofficially
announced by the Navy Department in
Washi lgton that the Kentucky was
going to Smyrna, the principal port OF
Turkey in Asa. At the same time the
State Department pressed the negota.
tions with the Sultan. The pressure Of
the Kentucky is well calculated to give
the crafty despOt an interest in the pro-
ceedings which he has not hitherto
shown.
The smaller matter at issue with the
Sultan of Morocco will also be pressed.
and he will be made to feel that the
Kentucky can easily turn back and take
a shot at Targier,
! he claims against Turkey are, first,
800, 900 damages for the destruction OF
the American missionary college at
Harpoot; second, the acceptsn nee OF an
American Consul at Hsrpoot in accord.
ance with treaty rights.
From Morocco the United States ask
$1,000 damages for the murder of nat.
urallzed American named Marcus
Essequi.
Our dispute with Turkey is really Of
a serious character. because OF the we'll
known fighting ability OF the Turks and
the evident determination OF the Sultan
to resist to the uttermost any demand
for satisfaction, however just, from any
other nation. The American claim
against Turkey IS one that no great
power could extinguish with a shred OF
sell respect, for it involves insLlt to the
flag as we'll as injury and loss to citizers.
Fortunately we have one strong card
in dealing with Turkey. She has no
ships to speak Of, and we have the best
in the world. The Turks are terrible
fighters on land, but when they are at
sea they are very much at sea. It is
assumed that the Sultan will pay up a
little matter OF $50, 600 rather than have
holes knocked in his best mosques and
minarets by the guns Of the Kentucky
SMYRNA would make a splendid targeI
for the guns OF the Kentucky. Il IS
great and rich seaport snd very poorly
defended. 1t has a population OF 200 600
and is very active commercial center
Il is the headquarters OF trade 10 AsiatiC
Turkey, or Asia Minor, being situated
on that part Of the Mediterranean shor,
known as the Levant. For centuries
Smyrna has occupied this prepouderan
position in commerce.
It was founded by Greeks many cen
turies before Christ. Hom IS said L
have been born there. Il is one OF th
seven cities mentioned in the Revela
tions OF ST. John.
The Turkish quarter Of Smyrna con
tains maDV fine mosques. minarets, Ia
towers, palaces and Government build
ings. 1t Is at these that the guns of tn
Kentucky would be directed, and
would be quite easy to demolish thei
without eudangerlng the foreign quartz
which is quite large. Probably whs
the Sultan thinks over all these thini
he will decide to pay. Undoubtedly Il
sight Of the superImposed turrets OF Il
Kentucky will have a salutary effect