The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-29
VICE CONSUL ALIVE
,1TEMPT MADE ON HIS LIFE, But
WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
SHIPS SAIL FOR BEIRUT.
THEIR PRESENCE IN TURKISH
WATERS MAY BE Statutory.


Tnknown Person But Was Not
Hit-ExpIanntion Relieves Ten
sion i'm WashingtOn-United States
wos Prepared to Enforce Its De-
wauI for satisfaction Might
Have Seized Some Turkish Port.
Washington, Aug. ga decidedly
now. turn in the case of the United
states vice consul, William C. Magels-
sen at Beirut, Syria, who was reported
n have been assassinated last Sun
dav developed tonight, when it be-
came known that the report was in
correct and that. although Mr.. Magels-
sen had been shot at he had not even
been injured.
This information came to the State
Department tonight in a dispatch
from United States Minister Leishman
at Constantinople, who said the mistake
in making the original announcement
was due to an error in the transmission
of the cipher dispatch from Consul
Ravndal, at Beirut in reporting the IN
cident to the minister.
followed closely on the Associated Press
bulletin on the same subject, which had
been shown to the prominent officials
of the government. The dispatch from
the minister was communicated at once
to the President at oyster Bay, but up
to a late hour tonight. nothing had
been heard, from him on the subject at
the State Department.
It's contents were extremely crafty
ing to the officials of the government
here, as it relieved the situation of its
extreme tension and leaves the way
open for an amicab1e and peaceable adj
justment of the incident.
Text Not Made Public.
Acting Secretary Loomis declined to
make public the text of Minister
Leishmans dispatch tonight, but he
gave a summary of it's contents AS
stated in the press dispatch, it shows
that Mr.. MagelSsen had been shot at
by some person at the time unknown
to the officials, but that he had not
been hit. The local Turkish officials
were prompt to express their regret at
the occurrence. pledging themselves to
dppEeQenQ the assassin, LnuS IdI
they had been unsuccessful.
The minister's dispatch also said
that Consul Ravndal had reported to
him that some of the foreign consuls
located at Beirut had reported to their
governments that the situation at that
place had become exceedingly unsafe,
that this condition of affairs had ex-
isted for some time, and that some
thing ought to be done to relieve the
tension.
The opinion was expressed that the
attempted assassination of Magelssen
probably would bring matters to a
focus, the attention of the Turkish
government being drawn to the mat
ter in this forcible way and some eff
fort thus be made to avoid further
trouble.
Situation Relieved.
The latest development in the Turk
ish situation was discussed in official
circles, where the view is held that
denial of the report of the killing OF
Mr.. Magelssen relieves the situation of
its Immediately awkward and embar-
RAISING feature, but will not prevent
our naval vessels continuing to the
east
Minister Leishman, in one of his dis
patches to the department, suggested
that conditions were such that it might
Dt well 10 nave some AlIl0IlCdH IldNdl
demonstration in those waters. Reports
also have come to the government from
the missionary interests of threatened
obstruction of their property at ,Har-
poot, and because of this Admiral
Cotton will be allowed to proceed to
Beirut
1t developed during the day that,
acting upon the first report of Consul
Magelssen's murder, the United States
Intended n re Hnt11andc with
Wgor. If necessary, ct had been de-
termined to seize and occupy some
turkish port. In that event Min
iSler Leishman would have left Tur-
Key, and turned over his affairs TO the
british ambassador
WarsIips to Go Anyway.
Oyster Bay, Aug. 2S.-President
Roosevelt tonight received through the
state Department at Washington con-
Hrnation of the Associated Press dis
patches from Constantinop1e and Bel
iut which show that the report of the
assassination of Vice Consul MageIssen
at Beirut is an error
The President will not countermand
lhe order to Rear Admiral Cotton to
proceed with the cruisers Brooklyn and
san Francisco and the gunboat Ma
mas TO Turkish waters The attack on
Slf Magelssen is regarded as an Incl
oeit which points to the necessity of
demonstration, which will have the
.uect of insurlng the protection of
americans in the Turkish empire.
me President expressed qualification
1lat Consul Magelssen had escaped
lnout injury from the assault of the
."ouId-be murderer.
Roosevelt and Hay Confer.
or several hours to-day President
-'ooSeVelt and Secretary of State Hay
IRE IN conference at Sycamore Hill.
t'ey discussed every suggested phase
me situation in Turkey. At the
Iucluslon of the conference, Secretary
LAY announced his intention of re-
n.y. Hllg Immediately to Washington.
ne TACT that Secretary Hay considers
'!s presence in Washington necessary
ms time, indicates the serious view
I'VE taxes of the Turkish situation.
az II o'clock tonight a telegram was
7celVed by Secretary Loeb from Act
US secretary of State LOOMS at
"Shlngton, communicating the text
caDlegram from Minister Leish-
'an at Constantinople. confirming the
'9ocldted Press report of the mac
'l1cy OF the report of Consul Magels-
assassination. As soon as the
age from the department was de-
tHsred, Secretary Loeb commune
,.sl ITS contents to the President by
Americans ID BE Protected.
be text Of Minister Leishman's tele-
an is not made public here. II can
NJ. said 10 be the purpose or President
'0oseYelt 70 afford American citizens