Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-29
Later News Indicates That
Magelssen at Beirut Escap-
ed Assassin's Bullet
WAR SHIPS ARE NOT RECALLED
An Attempt On the consul's Life Was
Made, But Was Not Successful
Presence of the Squadron Will Have
a Wholesome Effect Just the Same
Other News.

Magelssen, escaped the Turkish as
sassin's bullet. but the American squad
ron is now on its way 10 Turkish waters
and will not be recalled.
President Roosevelt will not counter
mand the order to Rear Admiral Cotton
to proceed with the cruisers Booklyn
and San Francisco and the gunboat
Machias to Beirut. because the attack
on Mr.. Magelssen is regarded as an
incident which points to the necessity
OF a demonstration which will have the
effect of insuring the protection of AM
orleans in the Turkish empire.
United States Minister Leishman, at
Constantinople, cabed the state de-
partment last night that the report that
Vice Consul Magelssen, at Beirut had
been assassinated, was incorrect. The
minister said the mistake made by
him in announcing the assassination
was due to an error in the transmission
of the cipher dispatch, from Consul
Ravndal at Beirut. The Turkish Off
Gals at Constantinople have assured
Minister Leishman, that the woG,d-br
assassin Will be hunted vigorously and
punished when a.pprehended.
Acting Secretary LOOMS declined to
make public the text of Minister Leish-
mans dispatch last night, but he gave
a summary OF its contents. 1t showed
that Mr. Magelssen had been shot at by
some persons unknown to the officials,
but that he had not been hit The To-
-;sL al iYf n
express their regret at the occurrence
and were eXerting themselves to APP
prehend the assassin, but thus far have
been unsuccessful
The minister's dispatch also said thai
Consul Ravndal had reported that for
eign consuls located at Beirut, had re-
ported to their governments that the
situation had become exceedingly UNI
safe.
The expressions of Turkish regret at
the attempted assassination of the
American vice consul are not satisfac-
tory to the United States. While the
country is not likely to demand an in
iemnity it will demand full protection
for all its officials, and Turkey may be
called upon TO salute the flags. Re-
ferring to the change n the situation
Acting Secretary of State LOOMS said
last night:
The European squadron VIII proceed
to Beirut, not primarily fer the pur-
pose of demanding an apology or sat
isfaction for the attempt on the life OF
one of its officials, but for the purpose
of protecting the lives of American
citizens in Turkish territory. Life and
property are in grave danger. All for
eign ministers at Constantinopie have
notified their governments of the criti-
cal situation, and some have requested
the presence OF warships for the pur.
pose of affording ample protection To
all foreigners In Turkey.
According to diplomatic representa-
tives the situation is extremely grave
and all foreigners are in danger of be-
ing murdered by Infatuated and fanau-
cal Turks
Minister Leishman's message said the
error in reporting the death of Vice.
Consul Magelssen occurred in tht.
transmission OF dispatch from Beirul.
to Constantinople, but he does not ex-
plain how it occurred. State department.
officials are entirely in the dark on this
point. but they are delighted to learn
that the life of valuable official has
been spared. They are also well pleased
because the situation is relieved of its
acute phase il this particular.
Earlier in the day, when it was be-
lieved that an American official had
actually been murdered, the state de-
partment officials had taken steps
toward drastic measures. 1t was de-
c!ded that if Turkey did not comply
promptly with American demands
Minister Leishman would be directed TO
place the affairs of the Aelnrican en-
bassy in the hands of the British am
bassador, sever all diplomatic relations
with Turkey, and leave Constantine
pie.
Further than this Rear Admiral Co..
ton was to have been instructed to sie2e
if necessary, one or more Turkish ports
and hold htem until American demand
were complied with.
These extreme measures of course,
were contingent on a showing that the
Turkish government had not moved
promptly or that ii was secretly en-
couraging acts like that of Sunday in
order TO discourage the work of Ameri-
can missionaries in the Turkish DONNA
ion. II
Acting Secretary Loomis sent 4
cablegram TO United States Consul
Thomas II. Norton, at Harpoot. ask
ing for information concerning the out
RACES reported from there.
Another urgent appeal has reached
the state department from the Amer
lean board of missions at Boston that
Immediate steps be taken for the pro-
lection of the American citizens At
Harpoot. The boards dispatches from
there for several days have represented
the situation as extremely grave.
There are at the Euphrates college at
Harpoot, fourteen American teachers,
beside women and children and proper
ty to the value of 100000. There is an
are a number of American teachers.
A situation bordering on reign Of
terror prevails in Asiatic Turkey and
missionaries at Harpoot are in hourly
dread OF losing their lives and proper
ty. Threats to burn the college at Hur-
poot are rife. Christians are inSultei
| in the streets and assaults have been
committed on foreigners though the
attempt on the life of Vice Consul Ma
gelssen appears to have been the gray
est incident Wide unrest and appre-
hension of revolution are reported
throughout Turkey and Asia Minoc.
st. Lous-Drs. Emanuel Urban and
7. F. Knapp are under arrest charged
with stealing drugs from the noorhGuse