The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-01
TURKEY IS INNOCENT
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAS
OCCURRED, SAYS CHEKIB BEY.
HAD CONFERENCE WITH HAY.
PROMISED PORTE WILL TRY TO
PROTECT AMERICANS.

After Interview Hay Called on Navy
Department Wanted to Know
Whereabouts of American War
ships and Their Orders-No Inten-
tion of Recalling Ships and no
Possibility of Doing So as They
VIII Make First stop at Beirut.
Conditions in Balkans.
Washington, Aug. 31.-Chekib Bey,
the Turkish minister, had a long in
terview to-day with Secretary Hay He
refused to discuss the interview, stat
ing that he had nothing to commune
cate further than what appeared in
the Associated Press dispatches yes
terday morning. After the interview
Secretary Hay visited the Navy De-
partment.
Chekib Bey assured Secretary Hay
that the Turkish government had done
nothing wrong and will use every en-
deavor to protect American citizens re-
siding in Turkey He also discussed
the conditions of the Instruction in
Turkey, and said that the Turkish gov
eminent was not responsible for any
of the disasters that had occurred.
Secretary Hays call upon Acting Sec
rotary Darling was for the purpose
of ascertaining the whereabouts of the
European squadron, and also what
their orders are. There is no intention
of changing any orders at present, es-
peclally as the ships cannot be reach
ed until they arrive at Beirut. No
messages of Importance have been re-
ceived from Minister Leishman to-
day.
No Changes Reported.
Late dispatches from Minister Leish-
man give in detail the conditions in
Turkey, but do not differ materially in
tone from those previously sent. Min
lister Leishman does not, as is reported
in some quarters, request the with
drawal of the American ships from
Turkish waters. While reports by way
of London state that no attempt was
made upon the life of Vice Consul Ma
gelssen, official advices so far received
show that such an attempt was made.
The present status was known before
the ships left Genoa, and this govern
ment did not decide to change the or
ders. 1t is now stated, however that
should there be a calm and peaceful
condition at Beirut when the ships ar
rive there the matter Of sending them
to another port will be considered and
possibly adopted.
The Turkish minister made no re-
quest upon Secretary Hay at the in
terview to-day regarding the movement
of United States war vessels, and
nothing in this matter was promised by
the State Department.
In one of the dispa tches from Minis
ter Leishman the question of the trial
of the teacher in one of the missions
at Harpoot was discussed, and the min
lister informed the department that he
can see nothing irregular in the trial
but at the request of the missionaries
he is seeing to it that no injustice is
done. The man was arrested charged
with sedtion.
VIII Not Go to Port Said.
Genoa, Aug. 31.-The United States
cruisers Brooklyn and San Francisco.
which sailed from Genoa yesterday
evening, are bound for Beirut and not
for Port Said, as previously cabled.
The Machias previously sailed for Port
Said. where she will coal.
Insurgents Claim $4,000 Men.
Sofia. Aug. S1.-The Macedonian
leaders here claim that an aggregate
of 1900 Bulgarans have crossed the
frontier, in small parties. and Joined
the insurgents during the last ten
days. Gen. Zontchef, the president
of the Macedonian Committee, and Col.
Jankoff, one of the revolutionary lead
ers, who are now In Macedonia, send
word that the insurgent forces total
1900 to $1,000 men. They expect that
a general instruction will be proclaim
ed this week.
Ferdinand on GunbOat
Kustendji Roumania, Aug. 81
Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria embark
ed here at midnight on the Bulgarian
gunboat Nadiejda and sailed for