The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1914-11-27
AMBASSADOR AT cONsTANTi-
NOBLE DIRECTED TO INTER-
VIEW TURK OFFICIALS
CONCERNING ACT.
OFFICERS REPORT CAUSES
WASHINGTON TO TAKE STEPS
Commanders Of U. S. Ships Instructed
Not to Embarrass Government
Wilson Declares U. S. Will
Not Be Involved In
War With Turkey.

i Washington. Nov. 20-The United
States Government has directed Am
bassador Henry Morgenthau at Con-
stantinople to ask the Ottoman Coy
eminent Tor an explanation of the fir
ing by Turkish land forces at a launch
from the American cruiser Tennessee
proceeding from Vourlah to the Amer
lean consulate at Smyrna, Asia Minor
| Cruisers to Take No Action.
Secretary Daniels, with the ap-
| proval of President Wilson, simulta-
neously cabled the commanders of the
| Tennessee and the North Carolina,
! also in the Mediterranean, to take no
action which might embarrass the
American Government and to await
| specific instructions from Washington
concerning the general situation.
These steps followed the receipt of
message from Captain Benton c.
Decker, commander of the Tennessee.
Diplomacy to Be Used.
Although without definite details as
to just what occurred, high officials of
the Washington government had no
doubt that the incident, no matter
where the responsibility lay, would be
promptly adjusted through diplomatic
channels.
President Wilson is determined that
under no circumstances shall the Unit
ed States be involved in war with Tur.
key. If the Turkish officials acted
without authority of the Ottoman gov
eminent and the firing was not justi-
fed by naval procedure in a closed
port, it is confidently believed here
that the Ottoman government will rem
der an apology.
News Received Earlier
Washington, Nov. 19.-The United |
States cruiser Tennessee, or its launch |
probably the latter-was fired upon |
by the Turkish forts at Smyrna.
Fears For U. S. Consulate.
Captain Benton c. Decker, of the |
cruiser, reporting the incident to the |
navy department, gave no details of |
the firing, but added that fears had |
been felt for the safety of the Ameri- |
can consulate.
, The navy department gave out q I
statement expressing complete conf.
dence in the ability of Captain Decker
to handle the delicate situation con-
fronting him.
TWO Theories at Washington.
While awaiting further reports from
Captain Decker and others from Am
bassador Henry Morgenthau and Con-
sui General George Horton, officials
here have two theories.
One is that the cruiser may have
been sending a guard ashore to pro-
tect the consulate and Americans and
other foreigners. They draw this from
Captain Decker's statement that fears
had been felt for the safety of the con-
sulate.
The other is that Captain Decker
had called on Consul General Horton,
who, after returning the call. was be-
ing taken back to shore by the cruis-
ers launch, which may have been dur.
ing prohibited hours.
Further Reports Awaited.
Before regarding the firing upon the
American ship as hostile act, off,
Gals here are inclined to await fur
her eports and hold to the belief that /
t might have been a misunderstand-
ng, or the act Of some local official, !
which will quickly be corrected in Con-
itantinople.
An earlier dispatch from CAPTAIN ,
Decker, reporting the Tennessee's ar :
.ival at Chios at p. m. Tuesday made :
10 mention of the incident /
Secretary Josephus Daniels issued
tatement saying the American consul
It Smyrna had been aixious for the
afety fthe consulate. :,
Movements of Tennessee.
1.-THE Tennessee" added Mr.. Dan
els statement, proceeded to and left a
vuria at the request of Ambassador
iorgenthau and is now anchored in
he harbor of a Greek port in the
gean sea, from which Captain Deck
RS cablegram was sent"
Secretary Daniels has called upon
aptain Decker to forward immediate
a full report of the incident.