New-York tribune., 1914-11-18
By Wireless Tells Gov
ernOr He Will Go 10
Smyrna as Ordered.
LAUNCH, FIRED UPON,
ON OFFICIAL DUTY
Attacked from Forts at
VOurIa, II Is Forced to
Return to Cruiser.

b Cable 90 The rr.5unel
Athens via London. Nov. IA
launch from the American armored
cruiser Tennessee was fired upon yester-
day by the Turkish forts az Vourla. in
the Gulf OF smyrna, according 10 a dis
patch from a Mitylene correspondent.
The commander of the Tennessee
then sent a wireless message to the
Governor informing him that he had
orders TO enter Smyrna and that he in
tended to do so. by force, if necessary.
The correspondent who telegraphs
this news says that the launch had been
sent from the cruiser TO arrange for
the Tennessee 20 enter the harbor. bu,
that it was fired upon before reaching
land and WAS compelled 20 return
The matter has not yet been settled
Washington. Nov. II. Officials here
to-night refused to credit or TO BE-
alarmed by the dispatch saying the
cruiser Tennessee's launch had been
frcd upon by the Turkish forts al
smyrna. Secretary Daniels said il any
incident had occurred 70 give rise 20
such a report the department would
be informed fully by tomorrow. IN
the meantime. he did not think j;
necessary 70 make a special effort TO
communicate with the cruiser
Mr.. Daniels said the Tennessee had
not been ordered to go into Smyrna
Harbor; that the commanders Of both
the Tennessee and her sister ship, the
North Carolina, had only general in
structions 20 remain in Mediterranean
waters and look out for American in
forests. He was satisfied that neither
Of the commanders would take any
step that might inv.,'ve tAe United
States in internatic1a! dfficulties.
Wild Rumors Ahoat.
All kinds Of wild rumors concerning
the cruisers have reached Washington
since they went into the Mediterra-
mean. A report that the North Caro-
lima had landed marines at Beirut
Syria. stood without being corrected
for nearly week, while cable com
munication had been interrupted. Then
came the widely circulated rumor that
the North Carolina had been destroyed
oy d mine. which was pro,ed o be
pure invention when omnunicatioi
with the vessels finally vas restored.
At the Turkish Embassy IL was said
the smyrna report probably was un'
true. but III there had been any dif-
fculty between the commander OF tn
Tennessee and Smyrna port author'tie-
IL must have resulted from m'snu
derrtauding which quickly would n"
cleared up. Ofcials regarded d a.
highly improbable that anything nan
occurred which could no. be readn,
adjusted by exchanges between CO..
Turkish and American go,ccnments.
Advices 20 the Navy Department 20
dav said that the Tennessee had 81
rived at Nourla. In the Gulf of Smyrra
Asia Minor. and that the cruiser Nortf
Carolina was az Beirut. NO menticr
was made i'm the official kilograms OF
INV measures of protection for British,
rrench or Russian subjects, as was re
ported
Petroerad Nov. l7.-An Official COM
uunication issued from the headquar-
ters Of the Russian army Of the Cau-
casus and made public here to-day
says
"The march Of our aCyance guards IN
.ae direction Of Erzerum is ended. This
march was NOT in consequence of any
attack. but the part OF plan which
had been laid out for our advance
euards in this same direction one OF
our columns attacked part OF the LEFT
wing of the Turks, which they threw
back Another OF our columns en-
gagged in p combat near Buzveran, which
was 70 our advantage.
"Upcn the Black Sea ittoral an at
.emDted offensive movement of the
Turk against our posts near Liman
tsiied completely. Attacked behind
and or tsc Aanks by our warships. the
Turks sgstaincd serious losses. Their
lc seryes have been aRnihilated.'
The following official communication
mas been issued through the headQuar.
ters OF the Caucasus army:
"ln the region OF Batum (Transcau-
Casis, or the east coast of the Black
Sea- firing continued throughout No
vember l6. The efforts of the Turk
20 advance IN the direction Of Erzer' n
have been without success.
a band o. kurds has exchanged
shots with our sappers In Azerbailar
Persia, but the enemy was dispersed
A the other points there Is nothing
20 report
London. Nov r.. \ Reuter- dispatch
from Constantlnople, Via Amsterdam
gives an official communication issued
by the Turkish War Office. II says:
Yesterday we attacked the English
near Fac (on the coast OF the province
OF Basra. on the Persian Guli). IheS
los. about q thousand Ia dead.
"The revolutionary leader Aoduf
Rcsal. crossed the frontier with 800
m.n TO assist the Russians, but wa.
dispersed b. our troops and many ol
his followers were killed.
"A Russian standard has been eapr'
I ured