The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-09-30
L. $. WARSHIPS on HAND.
Chester and scorpion TO Lie AT Malta.
Ready for Action II Necessary.

Special Gable Despatch 10 THE sun.
h GIBRALTAR, Sept. 2s.-The United States
scout cruiser Chester has arrived here and
Is coaling.
WASHINGTON. Sept 29.--Two American
naval vessels are en- route to Malta, where
they will remain until further orders.
to be prepared to protect American in
terests in Tripoli. The scout cruiser
Chester, which sailed from Boston little
more than week ago, passed Gibraltar
to-day and entered the Mediterranean
Sea. The gunboat Scorpion. station ship
at Constantinople. is now at Trieste. She
has been directed to proceed to Malta.
The two vessels will arrive about next
Thursday and will be held in readiness
to proceed to the coast Of Tripoli in case
Of necessity. 1t is expected here that the
Italian Government will guard the lives
and property Of foreigners in Tripoli
during its occupation
The Chester was ordered d to Tripoli
several weeks ago. after a conference
between officers Of the State and Navy
departments. to furnish protection to
the members OF the American archeolog-
ical expedition headed by Prof Richard
4NtItoil. udS becH tDSdStu III flidk-
ing excavations in the vicinity of Cyrene
and was to have resumed next month
Last March Mr. De Cou. an American
citizen and member of the party. was
killed by native.
In view of conditions likely to result
in Tripoh from the occupation by Italian
troops IL is probable that the scientific
expedition will postpone its work in
definitely.
The outbreak Of hostilities between
Italy and Turkey over the conditions in
Tripoli was not a surprise to officers OF
the State Department.
The United States has very little inter-
est either commercially or politically in
Tripoli. There are no American citizens
residing there and the commercial inter-
change between Tripoli and the United
States amounts TO only $4,000 a year
The greatest danger in the situation lies
in the possibility of religious war de-
veloping., Turkey might excite the Mos
lem population Of Africa and Asia Minor
into "a jehad or holy war against the
Christian nations by circulating stories
that religious and racial differences were
the basis Of the trouble.
W. W. Rockhill, American Ambassador
al Constantinople, advised the State
Department to-day that foreigners were
leaving by every departing steamer but
he said Constantinople was quietly await
ing the outcome of the dispute with Italy
The sentiment Of theapeople. he said.
seemed to be in favor OF war. Mr., Rock
hill informed the Department of tho con-
tents OF ltaly's ultimatum to Turkey
John z. Wood. American Consul at
Tripoli. cabled that twelve Italian war
vessels are lying off that port awaiting
instructions to land and take possession
of the country. The city. he reported,
was quiet and the people while excited
-,,,, la. Il ...~.x Il
there had been no disorder. Mr. Wood
sent telegram dated AZ noon to-day
saying that an Italian torpedo boat flying
white flag was entering the harbor
At p. NJ. he sent second despatch in
which he said that the Italian Consul had
informed his colleagues of the Consular
Corps tina, the ltGiian Government had
made a demand upon Turkey allowing
until o'clock this afternoon for IN
answer which il unfavorable will Re
followed by host!iities. Several Turkish
and Arab families. he said, have taken
refuge in The American consulate
Military expert, here think there will
tribesmen OF Tripoi attempt TO resist the
occupation by the Italian troops Tur-
key has practically no navy and is no
match Tor Italy upon the sea. Turkey
Is unable to send troops 10 Trpoli by any
route except across the Mediterranean
possible hecayse she has no haval vessels
To act a. conveys. The only opposition
to Italy which Is likely to develop Is from
the local Turkish troops now in I'ripol
Ii II not believed here that Italy will
have much difficulty in occupying the
be much harder undertaking. however
from a military point of view to sub
jugate the interior of the country The
natives are nomads and have never been
controlled by the Turkish authorities
They fight with the fanatcal bravery
for which the Moslem is noted and do not
decline a scrap even when outnumbered