New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-09
j. S. ARM0RED CRUISERS
ORDERED TO WAR ZONE
Two Fast Vessels to Leave for
the DardaneIIeS to Protect
American Lives.
TENNESSEE AND MONTANA
Washington Officials Insist That
This Naval Movement Has
No International Politi-
cal Significance.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

From The Tribune Bureaul
Washington Nov. S.-Two American an
mored cruisers, the Tennessee and m.
, Montana, will be rushed TO the Mediter
ranean as a precautionary measure for
the protection OF the several thousand
Americans at Beirut and Smyrna. II ia
| also quite possible that the revenue cut.
ter Unalga will be turned back from Port
Said for the same purpose.
| The decision to send the warships wa.
reached by President Taft at the Cabinet
meeting to-day, following the receipt Of
dispatches from Ambassador Rockhlu, In
Constantinople, to the effect that ths
| situation was acute and that there was a
possibility Of danger to missionaries and
other Americans in the war zone
Both the almored cruisers are now a.
the League Island navy yard, and will b
ready to sail by Monday. 1t Is expected
| that they will arrive at their destination
in about two weeks
No appeals for protection have been re-
| ceived by the Department of State from
the missionaries or their friends In this
| country, but the situation has reached a
state such as to justify this government
throwing safeguards about Americans
and to be prepared for any crisis.
Reasons Against Course.
The first disposition OF the State De.
partment was TO refrain from sending
any American warships to the Bosporus
| for the reason that their appearance
might be taken as an evidence Of Amers.
can participation in the great political
questions involved in the present Balkan
war and its settlement; also for the rea-
son that probably the ships could nos
reach Constant!nople In time to be Of
| any service.
The Unalga- now at Port Said, Is a new
| craft, commanded by Captain K. o. Crisp.
She carries a crew OF seventy, and II the
larger vessels OF the European powers
should overlook other foreigners in their
zeal for their own nationals. the Unalga
could furnish refuge for five hundred or
more Americans.
The Tennessee, the flagship of Rear
Admiral knight, who will command the
expedition, and the Montana each will
carry seven hundred sailors, as well as
one company OF marines each. A special
train is now taking four hundred blue
jackets from the Norfolk navy yard
and other stations on the coast 10
fill out the ships crews. Captain Harry
A Field will be I'm command OF the Ten
nessee, while Captain w. b. Fletcher viii
command the Montana Both vessels al
ways carry six months supplies, and with
! the stocks of their larders increased they
could feed vast number should famine
follow in the train of disaster that now
threatens Americans and other foreigners
| in the Orient.
The formal explanation OF the issue OF
these orders is as follows:
In view OF rumors OF possible disturb
ances in Turkey. the President has or
dered two ships to proceed to the Mediter-
| ranean, with view to relieving any ap-
prehension that might be felt by Ameri-
can missionaries and educators, who are
in great numbers, especially at Beirut and
| Smyrna. The American Ambassador ia
| Constantinople is under instructions to
| confer with his European colleagues,
| whose governments are more Immediately
| interested and are understood 10 be pre-
pared TO take what measures might 10
necessary II by any chance conditions OK
turbulence affecting the safety OF fon-
eigners should arise"
The Tennessee and the Montana srs
sister ships of 1880 tons displacement,
| and are among the speediest large yes-
sells in the navy. being rated at about IA
knots.
Although, as already Indie lted. the Of
ic.als here have given some thought to
the possibilities OF an effort being made
by some Of the powers 10 draw America
into the contest which is expected over
the terms of peace, they do not hesitate
to disclaim any possible connection be-
tween this matter Of international politics
and the naval movement ordered today
They make II quite clear that there Is no
| wish on the part OF this government to-
| participate In another such congress as
that held at Ageciras, where American
| interests, IL insistent at all, were quite re-
mote and such as are common to all mari
| time nations.
On the other hand, the dispatch 90
| naval vessels to pick up American refu-
gees and even in case OF necessity to land
| marines and bluejackets TO save American
life cannot properly be made matter or
| objection by any interested power. There
| Is a precedent, notably in the case OF the
| bombardment and capture Of Alexandria,
and in very recent days in some Of the
Central American revolts nd even now In
| China, where no fewer than 500 American
| soldiers are acting as railroad guard,
| taking up the task initiated by the
marines and sailors.