Evening star., 1914-11-23
POWER RESTORED
TO THE CAPTAINS
Discretionary Authority Again
Given to Commanders of Ten
nessee and North Carolina.
NO OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
AS YET OF TURKISH SHOT
Assurances Of Two Prominent Mem
bers of Ottoman Cabinet Regarded
as Satisfactory, However.

as Satisfactory, However.
| While the Washington government Is
awaiting today formal reply from the
| Turkish government regarding the shot
! fred at the launch Of the United States
| cruiser Tennessee, Capt. Decker OF the
Tennessee and Capt. Oman Of the cruis-
er North Carolina in the eastern Medl-
| terranean have had discretionary
authority restored to them to deal with
| emergencies that may arise in protect
ing American citizens and their inter-
| ests in Turkey.
| Secretary Daniels rescinded last night
the order he sent them last week dt-
| recting both commanders to take no
action whatsoever pending an investi-
| CATION of the firing on the launch.
! Although an official explanation from
| the Turkish foreign office has not yet
been received. informal assurances
from the Ottoman ministers of the in
terror and war to Ambassador Morgen-
than that the shots Xns Xfre FIR fred 1.nScb as a
as was customary. that the harbor of
| Smyrna was mined and closed nave
been accepted as the forerunner Of
| formal statement by the grand V1zter
| to the same effect
The regulations practically give naval
commanders in isolated parts OF the
globe the authority to take any meas
ures deemed necessary to prevent loss
/ of life to Americans They might even
lombard town in an extreme case.
Care Urged Upon Commanders.
Secretary Daniels cabled Capt. Decker
and Capt. Oman that they should keep
oil with OAn2rt-
ment and the American embassy at Con-
stantinople, making comprehensive re-
ports on conditions as they found them.
measures were necessary to protect
American lives, the Secretary added,
should the commanders feel privileged to
act of their own initiative. AT the same
time he cautioned them to consider care
fully the critical conditions brought
about by the war in Europe and the
desire of the United States to preserve
| a strict neutrality.
Mr.. Daniels has confidence in the abtl
ity and discretion of both Capt. Decker
and Capt. Oman, and does not fear that
either would take any action that would
embarrass the United States govern
ment. His orders to the two command
ers indicate that Notwithstanding the
explanation from the Turkish govern
| ment of the firing on the Tennessees 8
launch. the United States has no in
tention Of withdrawing its vessels, and
will continue to keep them within easy
reach of Americans in coast towns of
Turkey.
No further word came from Ambassa-
dor Morganthau today concerning the
Smyrna incident.
The fact that the two prominent
members of the Ottoman cabinet Of
their own initiative explained the oc-
currence to Mr.. Morgenthau and has
tened to assure him of the friendship
If.f Npr fnr ho fnf
accepted by high officials of the Wash
ington government as proof that the
Smyrna affair was no unfriendly act.
Responsibility Not Yet Placed.
Just where the responsibility for the
incident lies will not be known until
more complete reports are received.
but high officials of the administration
here think that some arrangement
should have been made for the entry of
the Tennessee's launch, in view of the
fact that formal notice of the mining
of the harbor of Smyrna had twice
been given to the American embassy
and consulates in Asia Minor
1t was suggested in Official quarters
that Capt. Decker may have believed
his launch could enter without diff
Guilty. The use of foreign flags as a
blind has been frequent in warfare and
officials here think the Turkish land
forces probably felt justified in taking
no chances.
1t is probable that the American am
Saasador as i result of the Smyrna in
CiaEnt will be instructed to make ar
flESements whereby the American con-
HuiS at Turkish coast towns will notify
Turkish land forces of the desire of
small boats from the American cruisers
to come ashore, so that all friction may
be avoided.
Although Turkeys right to exclude
neutral vessels and merchantmen from
her territorial waters in time of war
when ports are mined and closed is
not disputed. and while American war
ships will rendezvous in Grecian
waters. fifty or sixty miles away, ad-
minstration officials here do not an
ticipa,e any difficulty in obtaining per-
mission from Turkish local authorities
for launches from the American
cruisers to keep in touch with Ameri-
can consulates.
Must Avoid Partisanship.
One phase of the situation which,
how ever, will be impressed upon Amer
lean consuls is that in taking care of
British and French interests they are
ret to place themselves in the posi-
tion of partisans, merely following the
diplomatic courtesies usual in such sit
uations. High officials here think that
while Turkish diplomats and higher Of
icers may understand the custom Of car
ing for the diplomatic interests of bel
ligerents in time Of war, the Turkish
populace may not have as clear a con-
ccption of the niceties of such duties.
American warships are in no case to
be used, as has been frequently report
ed. as means of forcing protection
for British and French subjects be-
cause the latter are in the care of
American consuls. The duty of neu-
trail consul, it was explained by mem
Der Of the cabinet here. is merely that