Evening star., 1914-11-18
J.. s. NAVAL VESSEL
SHOT At BY TURKS,
CAPTAINS REPORT
Continued from First PageD

get more complete reports of the Incl
dent from the Tennessee's commander.
There has been considerable uneast-
ness about the Tennessee. and also the
North Carolina. her sister ship, since
they went to Turkish waters to look
after the interests of Americans, at the
end Of their voyage to the European
continent with gold for stranded tour
lists. Reports of mishaps to both ships
have been frequent, but always have
been disproved by official dispatches.
Ambassador Morgenthau's reports of
internal conditions in Turkey s4nee the
Ottoman empire Joined the dual alll-
ance in the war upon the entente pow
ers convinced officials here IL would
be we'll to have both ships remain IN
the Mediterranean for the present, ana
both have been going from port TO port
in Turkish waters or those nearby.
His Reports Reassuring.
So far, Ambassador Morganthau's re-
ports concerning the safety OF Ameri-
cans have been reassuring. An under
current of uneasiness was created.
however, early this month when the
Turkish commander at Beirut ad-
dressed a note to the American consul
general which he intended Tor the IN
formation of the French and British
governments. declaring that for every
q
any open and unfortified port three
British or French subjects would b.
put to death, and added that he could
not take the responsibility for any up
rising against Christians which might
follow such an event.
It was pointed out at the time that
bombardment Of any open and unforti-
fed towns was unlikely. as II is pro-
hibited by The Hague convention
Those Turkish officials who remain at
the embassy here were confident that
II the Tennessee had been fired upon
II was the act Of some local official.
which would quickly be taken up by
the constantinople governms1s eminent. Fun Fur,
other American officials in the vicinity
IL appeared that Washington was
awaiting further reports from the Ten
nessee herself before proceeding. 1t
became known also that England and
France were asking their commanders
in the Mediterranean for information
Of the incident.
May Have Been Warning.
It was pointed out that in making a
visit to Smyrna the ordinary procedure
for the Tennessee would be to anchor
outside the harbor and send a launch
ashore. One view fs that the firing
may not have been intended as an un-
friendly act. but merely as a warning
that the port was closed.
That Is said to be A usual form OF
notifying foreign vessel that a por,
is closed when other notification has
not been made. Vourlah is about ten
miles from Smyrna. The cruiser North
Carolina is at Beirut on the coast OF
Asia Minor. about 500 miles away.
Secretary Daniels Immediately noti-
fed Acting Secretary Lansing of tho
firing. and that official immediately
called upon Ambassador Morganthau
at Constantinople to make a complete
investigation. Communication, how
ever, between Constantinople and the
United States is very slow. The lat
est message from Mr.. Morgenthau. re-
ceived yesterday, was dated Noyembe
IL. 1t made no mention of any dis
turbances.
Chios a Grecian Port.
Chios. at which port the cruiser Ten
nessee has arrived. is the capital OF the
island Of the same name. located about
four miles on the coast Of Asia Minor
and near the Gulf of Smyrna. The is
land formerly belonged to Turkey. but
as result of the Balkan war was
turned over to Greece. A great portion
of the population of 10000 are Greeks.
Dispatches from Athens YESTERDAY
that the Tennessee had al
rived at the port of Vurla. In the GUT
OF smyrna, ana lnat nei appee aHSo
had put a stop to the ill-treatment o.
British. Russian and French residents.
The authorities of Smyrna, the dis
patch adds, fearing bombardment, had
left for the interior.
Capt. Benton Clark Decker is in com
mand of the Tennessee, which left New
York August with nearly S6,0OO.ocN
in gold on board for the relief of tha
American tourists stranded in Europe.
The warship first went to England and
then to France and finally entered the
where she visited sew
eral ports in pursuance of her RELIEF
work.