The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
PLAIN LANGUAGE FOR A TURK
A TINE WHEN REAR ADMIRAL
KIRKLAND FREED HIS MIND.
Visit From q Turkish Vail on the San Fran
ciscO-An Interpreter Was Needed,
So the Admiral spoke Out About the
Armenian Massacre-What the Nali
said Later TO the Interpreter.

When the Armenian troubles were at
their height few years ago, said naval
paymaster, my ship. the san Francisco,
flagship Of the Mediterranean squadron,
carving Admiral Krkand's bit Of bunt-
ing. dropped her anchor in the harbor oil
the most important seaport town in one OF
the main provinces of Turkey in Asia.
The idea in anchoring there was not alone
10 kill time. but also to give the engineers
n chance to do some overhauling required
10y the machinery.
After the ship had been swinging 10
her mudhook for All hour or 50, gayIy
cararisoned shore-boat came of from the
leach bearing a messenger from the |ah'
or Turkish Governor Of the province.
He was in full Turkish uniform, this mes
-enger. and he iabhered at IN" gangway
for some time before the officer OF the
deck Thought of sending for Lieut. Ward
the champion lingui-t of the American
Navy. who was then attached TO tn" san
Francisco.
Ward had often exhibited his skill a.
linguSt and had won renown for his knowl-
edge Of the obscure languages. What
Ward couldn't do with any old Language,
living or dead and buried, from ancient
(arthaginian down TO the coon French
Of Louisiana, wasn't worth doing
so the officer Of the deck sent for Ward
70 see if he could pick any talk out of this
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. person in the baggy,
glt-embroidered trousers at the gangway.
II wa. something easy for Ward, talking
Arabic was and in no time he had the
Wallis messenger reduced 20 smiles with his
Turkish jokes,
The messengers message was the sim
pest thing in life. He simply bore the re-
epects of the Vail. who would be pleased
g. visit the san Francisco himself on the
following day, with the gracious Admiral
invitation, dc, &c.
An of this was carried aft to Admiral
Kirkland, of course and also. OF course the
bluff old gentleman replied that he'd be
delighted TO receive his Nali-shp on board
the san Francisco on the following after
noon.
Well the Vail gorgeous a. the Eastern
star in his clothes and icweled decorations,
came Of to the San Francisco. attended
bv his suite, on the following afternoon,
The Vail was a good-looking Turk with a
shrewd eye in his head, and he was the
Quin'cssence and tn,ypc of courtesy and
grace.
He spoke only in Turkish, and of course
Lieut. Ward had to be summoned to in
terpret his talk TO the Admiral. At the
gangway the Vail expressed his apprecia
ton Of the nobility of Admiral Kirkland
a. exhibited by the Admirals gracious
invitation, and got of 10, of other taily
ike that, which Lieut.. Ward faithful,
translated Then the Vail was conducted
aft to the Admiral's cabin. where, with IN,
assistance Of Dragoman Ward. the bluff
old ~"a-dog and the Turkish Governor
settled down for a talk.
Now. ought 10 say that Admiral Kirk
land didn't have hi, of Use in the worlC
for Turk, and he was also pretty sore a
this time over the Armenian massacres
He would have liked to have permission
from this Government to waltz into TN
HGbor of Constantinople and TO blow tina