Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-10
IN TURKISH WATERS
JEWELS Squadron Expected
at Smyrna Today.
INCIDENT DISCUSSED
CONFERENCE BETWEEN NAVY
AND STATE DEPARTMENTS.
Representatives of Foreign Govern
ments Worried Over Situation and
May Influence Sultan.

There was consultation today between
the officials of the State and Navy depart
| ments respecting the orders to be given the
United States European squadron when II
arrives at Smyrna. The naval officers, IN
answer to the inquiries of the State De-
partment, estimated that Admiral Jewells
fleet would arrive at Smyrna by nightfall
today The admiraTs sailing orders simply
were to proceed to Smyrna, and nothing
more; and officially he knows nothing OF
the purpose of his cruise. 1t is said that
he probably understands the situation so
well that it will hardly be necessary. and,
in fact, will be rather inexpedient, to give
him any official orders Immediately, and
his ships will probably lie in the harbor of
Smyrna in close touch with the cable and
so with Minister Leishman at Constanti-
nople and with Washington.
There are signs visible here that the sig
natory powers to the treaty OF Paris are
beginning to interest themselves actively
in the policy of the Washington govern
ment toward Turkey. They have every
reason to dread any disturbance of the
balance of power In southern Europe at
this moment and it is believed that they
are willing to bring influence to bear upon
the sultan to induce him to acquiesce IN
American demands rather than permit the
issue to go to point where the use of
actual force might be regarded as actually
necessary by Washington
Diplomats on Hand.
Within the last two days, although Wash
ington has been almost completely deserted
by the diplomatic body, there have appear
ed in town representatives of the German,
the Austrian and the French embassies, all
of whom have communicated with the
State Department or the White House,
though the nature of those communlcat tons
is not disclosed.
Altogether the officials are hopeful that
soon after Admiral Jewells appearance at
Smyrna the sultan, having learned for
himself and without regard to subordlnates
of the porte, who are reported to be OBJ
structing Mr.. Leishman's work, of the pur-
poses of the State Department will be Will
ing to concede Mr.. Leishmans demands
and thus make unnecessary any prolonged
stay of the European squadron in port
where their menacing presence will un-
doubtedly be a source of irritation to the
people and the government
May Be Reinforced.
In case Admiral Jewells squadron is
detained in Turkish waters any length of
time because of the non-settlement of the
Turkish imbroglio, it will be reinforced
by the cruiser San Francisco, now at
tached to the Asiatic fleet and last re-
ported at Cavite, P. I. Orders have been
sent to Rear Admiral Stirling, command
ing that station, to send the San Fran
cisco home as soon as she can be made
ready for the long voyage. 1t is stated
that the vessel is in need of repairs and
that she will go to the navy yard. Nor
folk, for that purpose. The vessel will
start from Manila in week or two and
is ordered to make the trip by way of the
Suez canal and the Mediterranean.
In traversing that route, the San Fran
cisco will soon be in close proximity to the
present cruising grounds of Admiral
y bs to that s0ue
The San Francisco is probably better
known to the Turks than any other
United States warship for the reason that
she paid a long visit to Turkish waters
about a year ago, when the United States
sought redress for the insult to Consul
Magelson. The San Francisco anchored in
the harbor of Beirut until that affair was
settled. Shortly afterward she was sent
to the Asiatic station. Like the Olympia,
Cleveland and Baltimore, of the European
squadron, the San Francisco is a protected
cruiser and carries twelve guns in her main
battery
Other Complications.
If no reinforcements are needed by Rear
Admiral Jewell the San Francisco will come
straight home. but it is probable she viii
be detained at some convenient port In the
eastern Mediterranean until the war clouds
now lowering over Turkey have passed
away. She would then be in the same con-
dition Admiral BarkerS big battle ship
squadron. which is to be held at Lisbon
Until there is no longer any reason for their
detention in European waters
Discussing the possible severance of dip
lomatic relations between the United
States and Turkey, a. diplomat intimated
today that 1t was not at all improbable
that the sultan would forestall the tlleged
plan OF the United States by taking the in
| itiative in the matter on the ground that
| the present visit of the American warship
| Is national insult. He therefore pre-
Aiot cd hnt yhar f14
| ma or shortly thereafter, the sultan would
| recall Chekib Bey, the Turkish charge at
washington, and give United States Min
ister Leishman his passports He said
further that Turkey has asked nothing of
the United States and would lose less by
the breaking of diplomatic relations than
would the United States Although the
European friends of Turkey would welcome
an amicable settlement Of the issue with
the United States, he said, they would nm
oouDtediy take sides with the sultan in
case or hostilities likely to disturb the bal
| ance of power. Ae va