Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-08-28
american VICE
CONSUL KILLED
President Orders Squadron to
Beirut to Enforce De-
N mands on Turkey.
PUNISHMENT is DEMANDED
VIM. G. Mageisssn 10 Assassinated
BY IN Unknown Man at Beirut
Conference 1t Oyster Bay to De-
eide on. Further Action.

Washington, Aug. 28.-The state de-
partment has received cablegram
from Minister Leishman at Constan-
tinople, announcing that William G.
4Maselssen, United States vice consul
at Beyrut. Syria, was assassinated
Wednesday while riding In carriage.
The American minister Immediately
brought the crime to the attention OF
the government and demanded action
by Turkey. Acting Secretary Loomis
yesterday cabled Mr.. Leishman, re-
Questing him to demand the arrest and
immediate punishment Of the guilty
persons. No demand for money In
demnity for the mans family has yet
been made, but that probably will fol.
low. Magelssen was appointed from
Minnesota.
Admiral Cotton, commanding the
European squadron, has been cabled
by the navy department to have his
vessels in readiness to move to Beirut
on the eastern shore OF the Mediter'
ranean sea, In case the demands of the
United States government on the
Turkish government are not com.
piled with.
Magelssen, who was q Scandinavian,
was appointed vice consul at Beirut in
1889. At the time of his appointment
he was consular clerk In Turkey. Mag.
elssen was appointed on the recon-
mendation Of Senator Nelson of Min
nesOta.
Minister Leishman's cablegram
stated that the assassination occurred
Sunday. the minister being informed
Of the crime by Consul Rayndal. The
consul stated that the murderer was
not seen and is not known.
The announcement of the assassina.
ton of the American vice consul fol-
lowing SO soon upon the assassination
Of q Russian consul In Turkey created
strong comment in ofncial circles, and
the suggestion was made that such fire.
guent assassinations Indicate very
disturbed condition of affairs in the
Turkish dominiOns. Minister Leish.
man gave no particulars of the assas.
sination, and the state department
has no information as to the cause Of
The murder. The American govern
ment will insist that the local author
tiles be punished IL they were derelict
In their duty, and that the full meas.
ure of punishment be given the actual
perpetrators of the outrage. Beirut is
city. on the eastern shore Of the Med
iterranean sen. and is place OF, q
considerable commercial importance.
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. 28.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt last night issued or
ders that the European squadron, un-
der command Of Admiral Cotton,
should proceed Immediately to Beirut,
Syria, to be in readiness to support
any demand made by the United
States on Turkey on account of the
assassination of William G. Magelssen,
United States vice consul at Beirut.
For several days President Roose-
welt has been following closely the de-
velOpments of the situation in Turkey.
With the country in such turmoil as
now prevails, almost anything is like
" to happen. With view to <consid-
ering the subject the more carefully,
the president and Secretary of State
Hay had arranged for conference to-
day at Sycamore Hill. The secretary
is now en- route to Oyster Bay.
At the conference today the presi-
dent and Secretary Hay will consider
the Turkish situation carefully and
probably will reach some conclusion
as to the attitude of the United States
VS. respects the late serious phase Of
the matter