The Washington times., 1912-11-08
TAFT SENDS TWO
WAR VESSELS TO
AID AMERICANS
Orders Cruisers to Mediter-
ranean To Protect Mission
i, aries in War Zone.
Continued from First Page.)

persistent denials from the State De-
partment that the United States would
take any hand In the situation.
Threats of massacres of Christians In
Constantlnoplc and other places In
Turkey by soldiers infuriated by fanati-
cism and by defeat at the hands OF Bull
garians have from day to day grown
IN seriousness. 1t Is almost II settled
fact that only force will avert a massa-
ere. Since this has become recognized,
Il Is well understood that the European
Interests represented In the Dardanclles
would look after. their own nationals
first and would extend protection to
Americans and others II they had
enough strength to do 30. In case their
strength was limited Americans would
have to look out for themselves.
At the same time that the United
States Is preparing to take an active
hand In looking after its own citizens
the most careful efforts are being made
not to involve this Government In a
diplomatic tangle.
For the present the course OF Amer
lean forces in the Mediterranean will
be dictated to q degree by the advice
and course Of European powers which
are more Immediately interested.
May Try to Pass Dardanelles.
The immediate destination of the
Tennessee and Montana IL not known.
The vessels may attempt to pass the
Dardanelles and proceed to the Bay of
Constantinople. On previous occasion
the passage OF American ships through
this channel aroused European protests.
The eagerness OF the State Depart
ment to avoid a tangle is actuated by
the warning words of the Senate com
ment on the ratification of the Alge-
Ciras treaty.
The United States was made "a party
to the convention settling Moroccan af-
fairs. but when the serate came to
ratify the treaty II said in about so
many words that 1t was acting upon the
treaty with the clear understanding that
Europe wogld not regard II as an inter
ference with or participation in con-
tinental diplomacy.
Practically all Of the information OF
the state Department regarding tho
hcutenes Of the situation has come from
Ambassador Rockhlll. whose messages
are nundcrstood 10 portray a situation
much more menaclng and startling than
the state Departm, mt mas admitted.
The only American vessel in Eastern
waters heretofore has been the Scorpion
The Tennessee" and Montana will get
under way at once, and should reach
lhe Aegean Sea about November 20
SOFIA. Nov. S-Turkish soldiers have
massacred inhabitants of tho town of
Silivri and set the town on fire, It was
reported here today.
IL was said the slaughter began when
the people resisted the seizure OF all
their food by the starving troops
the Chatalja fertilization on the Sea
OF Marmora. Its population Is about
loNDON. Nov. >-That the Bulgar
ians have captured most OF the fort!
Which constitute Constnnttnople's las
line of defense was persistently report
ed here today on the strength Of rtcs
saSes from Sofia dnd Belgrade.
I'uFinng Hnb hos
for several hours along the Chltalj;
line, II was certain. Just what the sit
uation was early today was doubtful
however Reports ana d"nals folluwc,
one another so rapidly that mi!itar,
men were completely confused.
OF OnlI' on" thing were military ~
perts surc-that Constdntinoplc's fll
was matter. at any rate. of only
Gay or two That massacre of Chris
tians there will follow the crownini
Turkish defeat seemed more likely will
every succeeding development.
VIENNA, Nov. S.-lnformal ncgotia
tons have begun with view to tn
surrender OF the Turkish troops holdin,
the still unCapturcd forts constituting
Constantinoplc'ss last defense, Lieuten
ant Wagner tclegraphed to his news
Taper mere, the ReichpOst. today. IL
the meantime. Wagner stated. Bul
Earian operations against the fortifica
tions were progressing successfully.
CONSTANTSA. Roumania, Nov. a..
disease resembling cholera has broke
out among the wounded in ConStan
tnople. 4. was learned here today o
reliable authority.
The situation in the Sultan's capitG
has been growing desperate since IN
Tu:kb were driven back to the Cha
taljA line Of dcfrnses.
Tho government has done its utnros
To prevent the people from lcarnin
how hopeless is the armys position. bL
the news has leaked out until toda
everyone knew. not details. indeed. bt
th-t the Citv was in immediate per
or plundcr.
Only the fact that So large a prorOl
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