New-York tribune., 1914-11-23
Need Not Wait Washing
ton Instructions TO Pro-
teCt Christians.
DANIELS RESCINDS
HIS FORMER ORDER
Taken as Indication of
Necessity for Use of
Firmer Policy.

kfiuW lNc lflpuut Dutrbusi
Washington, Nov. 22.-Orders were
clbled to-day to Captain Decker of the
armored cruiser Tennessee and Cap
tain Oman Of the armored cruiser
North Carolina giving them free rein
TO act in case of massacre of Chris
tians at Smyrna or in any other emer-
gency without awaiting Instructions
from here. Both warships are now at
Chios, Greece, about sixty miles from
Smyrna.
The orders which Secretary Daniels
sent to the captains of the Tennessee
and North Carolina countermanded the
previous orders he had sent instruct
ING the captains not to take any steps
without first consulting the depart
mont. While the orders to-day mean
that the naval officers are free to act
IN an emergency, the Secretary of the
Navy, nevertheless, instructed them
vith extreme caution, so as
not to involve this country unneces-
Yields to Criticism.
The new orders from the navy De
partment are the result of the crlti-
cism that. despite the reported preea-
rious situation Of Consul Horton ana
other Americans at Smyrna, little or
no effort was being made by the gov
ernment for their protection. The or
ders of to-day are taken as an indica-
tion that the administration has made
up its mind to handle the situation in
Turkey with a firm hand and TO insist
on full guarantees for the safety Of
all foreigners in Turkey.
Il also is regarded as significant
that the new orders should be sent to
Captain Decker, whose report of the
shot incident was that it was mot a
hostile but an unfriendly act" II was
also Captain Decker who reported TO
the Navy Department that he believed
that Consul Horton was in danger
The Tennessee was sent to Smyrna by
Ambassador Morgenthau because Of
adyices he had received from Consul
Horton indicating that he had fears
for his safety Just what Instructions
were sent 10 the commanders of the
two warships have 10 be guessed az, be
cause the only information given out
by the Navy Department IL that out
lined above.
Consul Horton. at whose suggestion
Ambassador Morgenthau sent the two
warships to Smyrna, has the reputation
here of being a clear-headed and able
representative of long experience in
Turkish affairs. It has been intimated
by naval officials, however. that he has
on previous occasions displayed undue
alarm over conditions.
New Orders Allay Fears.
The news that the Navy Department
had given the commanders of the Ten
nessee and the North Carolina the right
to act upon their own initiative in case
of emergency has allayed somewhat the
fears of +ose who were anxious for
the safety OF Consul Horton and other
foreigners in Smyrna.
Just where the responsibility for the
incident lays will not be known until
more complete reports are received,
but high officials Of the administra-
ton here think some arrangements
should have been made for the entry
OF the Tennessee's launch, i'm view o.
the fact that formal notice Of the
mining of the harbor of Smyrna had
. Twice Dttu XIV tN " Nilt 4NlllEA tNtf.t LII
bassy and consulates in Asia Minor.
1t was suggested in official quarters
that Captain Decker may have be
lieved his launch could enter without
difficulty The use of foreign flags as
a blind has been frequent in warfare,
aud officials here think the Turkish
land forces probably felt justified in
taking no chances.
One phase of the situation which,
However. will be impressed upon Amer
lean consuls is that in taking care Of
British and French interests they are
not to place themselves in the position
of partisans, merely following the dip
lcmatic courtesies usual in such situa-
tions. High officials here think that
while Turkish diplomats and higher Of.
ficers may understand the custom OF
caring for the diplomatic interests of
belligerents in time of war; the Turk
ish populace may not have as clear a
conception of the niceties of such
duties.