Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-18

cruiser North Carolina is at Beirut. on
the coast OF Asia Minor. about 500
miles aWay
Morosnehau Investig ating.

tue coast or ASH SMHioE, dDOuI OVV
miles away.
Mornsnehau Investig ating.
Secretary Daniels Immediately noti-
fed Acting Secretary Lansing of the
firing and that official Immediately
called upon Ambassador Morgenthau
at Constantlnople to make 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 Nov. II.
AS Captain Deckcr's report men,
toned the fact that anxiety had been
felt for the safety OF the American
consulate at Smyrna, the opinion was
expressed In some quarters that the
launch might have been taking a guard
from the Tennessee to protect the con-
sulate and such Americans and for
elgners who naturally might seek
asylum in that quarter.
Another Theory.
Those officials who regard the In
cident as misunderstanding of some
kind say that had Captain Decker been
convinced that the Turkish forts were
firing on his ship as an act of hos
tility, the big firing machine would not
have steamed away without further
incident.
While there is no question to the
right of the Tennessee to protect
Americans and their interests and the
question of protecting citizens of Eng
land, Russia and France, which are at
war with the porte, the incident may
raise a delicate situation.
SMYRNA Important Seaport.
Smyrna is seaport Of Turkey on
the west coast OF Asia Minor, Is capital
OF the vilayet Of Adm Cor Smyrna)
and Is situated at the head Of the Gulf
of Smyrna. 1t is about zoo miles
uth-southwest of Constantinople. The
population is estimated at 100000.
Turks and Greeks each comprising
one third of the total, while Jews and
Armenians mbake up one-tenth.
The town Of Vourlah is twenty Ave
miles from the city of SMYRNA and the
fort at Vourlah commands the entrance
to the Bay Of Smyrna.
The city is built partly on level
ground and partly on the slopes Of
Mount Pagus. Altho still an oriental
city, Smyrna has been considerably
modernized, especially IN the section
along the shore. There are a number
of schools and hospitals maintained by
various natonalities. as we'll as the
museum and library of the Evangelical
school, Greek foundation.
Smyrna is easily the chief seaport of
Asiatic Turkey and its harbor is one
Of the finest in the Mediterranean.
The exports include the famous
Smyrna figs raisins. sponges, Turkish
carpets and rugs, opium. tobacco. silk.
licorice root. wool, hides. emery
leeches ETC., valued at about sc. .000. 900
annually. The imports amount to about
$14.0 .0O0, 900.
Most of the trade is with Great Brit
ain and manufacturingfis on limited
scale. Among the products are exiles
leather. soap and furniture.
Texas Sunk 4 sstxrns.
1t was in the haEborsof. Smyrna that
the little steamer Texas owned by the
Archipelago American Steamship Com
pany, was sunk by mine or shell or
April 30 1912. when of the Yenikafe
fort, short distance from the mouth
of the Gulf of Smyrna. 1t was reported
that 140 were drowned, of whom sin;
nine were passengers, chiefly pilgrims
returning from the Holy Land.
The commander of the armored
cruiser Tenne ssee, Benton C.. Decker
formerly captained the scout cruiser
Chester sister ship of the Birmingham
and Salem. He is rated as one of the
hardest working and ablest men of his
ra nj. in the American navy