The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-01

Oyster Bay. N. Y. August 27.-Presi-
den Roosevelt tonight issued orders
that the European squadron under
command of Admira Cotton proceed
Immediately to Beirut Syria. to be in
readiness to supper any demand made
by the United State on Turkey on ac-
count of the assassination of William
c. Magelssen. United States vice consul
at Beirut.
For several lays President Roosevelt
has been following closely the develop
ments of the situation in Turkey. With
a view TO considering the subject the
more carefully the president and Sec
rotary of State Hay had arranged for
a conference tomorrow at Sycamore
Hill. The secretary is now en- route to
Oyster Bay. At the conference tomor-
row the president and Secretary Hay
will consider the Turkish situation.
In the absence of definite infOOrma-
tion concerning the estimation or
Vice Consul Magelssen. the president
will take no decided action bevOnd that
already taken in Orderin~ the European
squadron to Beirut.
Washington. August 21.-PrOmpt and
vigorous action is being taken by the
United States government to secure the
punishment of those persons implicated
in the assassination of United States
Vice Consul William G. MagelsSen at
Beirut. Syria, Sunday last. Minister
Leishman at COnstantinople. who re-
ported the fact to the state department.
has been instructed by the state de-
partment to demand a thorough inves-
tigation of the affair and the punish
ment of those involved in the crime
and the European squadron, consisting
of three warships. has been ordered TO
proceed Immediately to Beirut to sup
port the demands of the United States
minister should thisb be found necessary.
This latter measure was determined
on as a result of conference which
have been held over the telegraph and
telephone wires. between the officials
here during the day and the evening
and the president at Oyster Bay The
latter felt that no time should be lost
in dispatching Admiral COttOn's squad
ron to Turkish waters and he gave in
structiOns to Acting Secretary Darling
that immediate orders be given Ad-
miral Cotton to proceed at once. The
presidents determination to lose no
time in getting the squadron to Beirut
was also due in part to information re-
ceived by Acting Secretary LOOMS of
the state department tonight from the
asident of the American board OF
missions at Boston indicating that an
attempt had been made to burn the
Euphrates college buildings at Har-
poOt. This dispatch said:
Information just received that an
attempt has been made to burn the
Euphrates College building Conditions
increasingly alarming. Great anxiety
felt for the safety of American citizens
there"
Acting Secretary Loomis tonight ca
bled to Minister Leisham at COnstnti-
nople to make immediate demands on
81 ont. - rol-a o1n111nt1 moo
for the protection of all Americans at
Beirut and to prevent any attack on
the college BUILDINGS
Admiral Cotton who was directed to-
day to hold his squadron in readiness
to proceed at a moments notice to
Beirut cabled the navy denartment as
follows under date Of Nice. France:
Gable just received. Machias at
Genoa for coal. Brooklyn has seven
days. San Francisco six and a half
days coal at ten knots. Cannot eX-
coed that speed with Machias. If
squadron going west should coal at
Marseilles. If east at Genoa.
(SignedO COTTON"
Admiral Cotton's instructions are 10
sail at once. 1t is estimated that the
Brooklyn going full speed can reach
Beirut within six days
Acting Secretary LOOMS received a |
rather remarkable cablegram from |
Minister LeiSham tonight i'm which the |
latter stated that he had called at the
Turkish foreign office at C~OnstantinOple |
this evening to inquire about the assas- |
sinatiOn Of the United States vice con- |
sui and that the minister of foreign at !
fairs emphatically denied n knowl-l
edge Of the report. He also attempted
to discredit it. The cablegram rave no |
other information. |
Acting under the instruction of the |
president that Admiral CottOn'S squad |
ron be directed TO proceed Immediately |
to Beirut Mr.. Darling cabled the adj
miral TO this effect At Nice. directing |
him TO go to Beirut at once. The presi- |
dents instructions on this point Will |
A,r- - IL lnrrc. Il