Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-08-28
ALEXANDRIA, VA, FRIDAY EVENING AUGUST %, 1903
alexandria Gazette.
.lEntered at the Ieostofliee of Alexandria, Vir.
ginia, as second class matter.
ASSASSINATION OF A, u. s. VICE
CONSUL.

i TIC dScttSSiudllOll vi NiHi"hi - -
gelssen, United States vice consul at
Beyrut, Syria, announced in yesterday S
Gazette has caused considerable stir in
this country, and prompt and vigorous
action is being taken by the United
States government to secure the punish
ment Of those persons implicated in the
assassination.
Minister Leishman, at Constantnople,
who reported the fact to the State De-
partment. has been instructed by the
State Department to demand thorough
Investigation Of the affair and the pun
ishment of those involved i'll the crime,
and the European squadron, consisting
of three warships, has been ordered to
proceed Immediately to Beyrut to sup
port the demands of the United States
minister should this be found necessary.
This latter measure was determined
upon as a result of conferences which
we're held over the telegraph and tele-
phone wires between the officials in
Washington and the President, at
Oyster Bay. The latter felt That no
time should be lost in dispatching Ad-
miral Cotton's squadron to Turkish
waters, and lie gave instructions to act
ing Secretary Darling that immediate
orders be given Admiral Cotton to pro-
ceed at once.
The Presidents determination to lose
no time in getting the squadran to Beirut
was also due in part to information re-
ceived by acting Secretary Loomis, OF
the State Department, last night, from
the president of the American Board OF
Missions, at Boston. indicating that an
attempt had been made to burn the
Euphrates College building at Harpoot
Acting Secretary Loomis last night
cablcd to Minister Leisbman, at Con
stanlinople, to make immediate demands
on the Porte to take adequate measures
for the protection of all Americans at
Beirut and to prevent any attack on the
college buildings.
Admiral Cotton's instructions are for
him to sail alto Itisprobahle hewill
90 ahead to Beirut with, the Brooklyn,
leaving the Machias and the San Fran
cisco to follow. 1t is estimated that the
Brooklyn going full speed can reach
Beirut within six days.
Acting Secretary Loomis received a
rather remarkable cableglam from Minis
ter Leishman last night, in which the
latter stated that he had called at the
Turkish Foreign Office at Constantinople
to inquire about the assassination OF the
United States Vice Consul, and that the
Minister of Foreign Affairs emphatically
denied any knowledge of the report. He
also attempted to discredit it. The cable
gram gave no other information. Under
the circumstances the State Department
officials are inclined TO believe that the
Turkish Foreign Office is not in touch
with the situation at Beirut. They do
not attach sufficient importance to Minis
ter Leishman's last message to cancel the
order for the squadron to sail.
Acting under the instructions of the
President that Admiral Cotton's squad
ron be directed to proceed Immediately
to Beirut, Mr.. Darling cabled the Ad-
miral to this effect at Nice, directing him
to 90 to Beirut at once. The President 5
instructions on this point will be carried
out to the letter
The announcement of the assassina-
ton of the American vice consul, follow
ing so soon upon the assassination of Il
Russian consul in Turkey, created strong
comment in official circles, and the sug-
eestion was made that such frequent as
sassinations indicate a very disturbed
condition of affairs in the Turkish do
miniOns.
In the absence of details no motive
can be ascribed for the crime, and the
State Department officials have no means
of suggesting a theory as to why the
vice consul was killed. There have been
no complaints about him or his work,
and the meager cablegram conveys not
the slightest suggestion of cause for
The crime.