Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-02
TURK SHELLS MISS
ODESSA AMERICANS
None Injured by Bombardment
and Their Property Loss
Is Slight.
CONSUL WIRES GERMANS
COMMANDED GUNBOATS
U. S. Embassy Will Handle Affairs
of Allied Powers in Constan-
tinople. It Is Announced.

No Americans We're injured in the
Turkish bombardment at Odessa and
the damage to American property was
insignificant, according to report to-
day from the American consul at
Odessa
The consul cabled that the local
authorities at Odessa claimed the
Turkish gunboats which conducted the
commandment were under the command
of German officers.
The State Department received word
from a cable company in London that
routine message, dated yesterday, ad-
dressed to the American embassy at
Constantinople. had been held UP, as
there was no communication with
Turkey. Officials here directed that it
be sent via The Hague, Berlin, Vienna,
Sofia and Athens.
The last message received by tho
American government from Amba ssa-
dor Morgenthau told of the demand for
passports by the British, French and
RUSSIAN ambassadors and the assur-
ance of the Ottoman government that
1t would afford them every courtesy in
leaving the country
Determination, however, to detain
RUSSIAN consuls in the Ottoman empire
as hostages until assurances of safe
RUSSIA IS authoritatively announced in
dispatches from Ambassador Morgeu-
thau to the United States government.
ne turkish minister of the interior
I'M orfned Mr.. Morgentllau that Turk
ISM warships within the last three DAYS
had bombarded Seba stopol
Great Britain and France have placed
their interests in Turkey in the hands
OF the American EN- ssy. and the
Turkish consul at Havre has turned
over his consulate to the United States,
ana is preparing. along with other
consuls, to leave France.
Servia Makes Ready.
Servia has asked the United Statas.
through Mr.. Morganthau. to look after
her diplomatic interests at Con. tanti-
nople 'in case of war with Turkey"
There was nothing further to show
whether he actually departed with the
diplomatic representatives of the triple
entente.
Drastic action against Turkey by
Great Britain was forecast in a state
ment given out by the British EN-
bassy here last night. which reviews 4
series of aggressive acts against
Egypt by Turkey, and charges that
ambassadors of Germany and Austria
most to force Turkey into the war.
These attempts to force race war
are ''preludeS to further acts of ag-
gression," according to the British en-
bassy statement, and the British gov
eminent must take whatever action is
required to protect British interests,
British territory and also Egypt from
attacks that have been made and are
threatened"
No mention was made in Mr. Morgan
thau's dispatches of any declaration OF
war. Communication with CONSTANT
nople was interrupted and the last
message. which was dated IL pm, Oc-
totber 81. referred only to fiscal mat
ters of the embassy. mentioning Incl
dentally that conditions in the capital
were quiet.
News of War.
The only positive statement that war
had been officially declared between
Russia and Turkey came in a private
| message from a business house in Con-
stantinople to it's home office in New
York, transmitted by he American en-
embassy.
State Department officials explained
that they always had permitted Ameri-
can embassi or legations in neutral
countries to transmit cipher messages
to facilitate communication through
belligerent countries, but only with
full knowledge by the American dipIo-
mats of the contents of such MESA ges
the American ambassador had filed Il
similar message to the department.
which has been delayed in transit,
as has been the case with many mes
sapes from Constantinople
1t was taken for granted by officials
generally. however, that even though
no declaration may have been made
state of war between Turkey and the
powers Of the triple entente will short
ly be recognized to exist
Servia's request to the American gov
eminent to look after her interests in
Turkey was regarded IS particularly
significant, forecastirg the intention of
the Balkan monarchy to throw her
forces into the ED against the Turks
OBTAINING Consuls.
The decision of the porte to detain
all Russian consuls in Turkey was
viewed as a consequence of the arrest
of Turkish consuls in Russia, when the
raid of the ports on the Black sea was
made by the Turkish navy Their re-
lease and safe conduct undoubtedly will
be one of the first problems with which
the Italian government will be con-
fronted as the guardian of Russian in
terests in Turkey.
Just which nation will care for Tur-
kish interests in Russia is not known
here, though it is believed the Ameri-
this mission, as has been the case with
practically all the belligerents in
Europe
Cable dispatches from the American
embassy at Rome confirmed the reports
that the Italian cabinet had resigned.
but gave no intimation of what course
the government would follow toward
recent developments in the Levant
The State Department had dis
patches from the far east. Officials
knew nothing of the claim made in the
German official statement that Japan
had offered to assist China in suppress
ing revolution in the province of Shan
tung
1t was pointed out here that in view
of the understanding which the United
States early in the war reached with
Japan, the Washington government eX-
pected to be consulted concerning any
such extension of operations on the
part of the Toxic government in the
Chinese republic Officials believed they
would have been informed of such
step If it had been taken.
Statement by British Embassy.
The statement issued by the British
embassy follows:
AT the beginning of the war the
British government gave definite as
surances that if Turkey remained neu-
trail her independence and integrity
would be respected during the war and
in terms of peace. In this France and
Russia concurred. The British gov
eminent has since then endeavored
with greatest patience and forbearance
to preserve friendly relations in spite