Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-18
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS GREAT.
~ DISTURBED OVER ACT
WHICH APPEARS HOSTILE.
FULL DETAILS ASKED OF
Aeh CAPTAIN AND AMBASSADOR
No Explanation Yet Received and
Theories Disasree-May Have Been
Deliberate Act Of Hostility, elunder
Of Local Official, or Mere Warning
That Port Is Closed to Foreigners.

Washington Nov. 1s.-Captain Deck
er, of the cruiser Tennessee. reported to
Secretary Daniels early today that
while proceeding from vourlah to
Smyrna to make an official call, the
vessel was fired upon.
An early dispatch from Captain
Decker reporting the Tennessee's ar
rival at Chios at o'clock yesterday,
made no mention of the incident.
Mr.. Daniels issued statement say
ing the American consul at Smyrna
had been anxious for the safety OF the
consulate.
The Tennessee" added Mr.. Daniels
statement, proceeded to and left
Vourlah at the request OF Ambassador
Morgenthau and is now anchored in
the harbor of Schio (Chois), from
which Captain Decker's telegram was
sent"
Secretary Daniels has called upon
Captain Decker to forward immediate
ly full report of the incident.
Wonderment in Washington.
Captain Decker's report confirming
last nights news dispatches, which Of
ficials hoped and believed were mac
curate. left them today in a stage Of
complete wonder. Every effort was be-
ing made today to get complete reports
OF the incident. The reports do not say
whether the Tennessee or her launch,
as reported in news dispatches, had
been fired on.
Besides being considered as q hostile
act, the firing may be explained in
various ways. The first report said the
cruisers launch had been turned by
three shots from the forts as 1t was
entering the harbor Of Smyrna. The
officials say the forts may have taken
that means OF warning the ship Of mine
fields In the harbor.
&insasinsss Long Felt. Z .t.r----rs4r'
There has been much rneasinesa
shout the Tennessee and the NORTH,
Carolina, her sister ship. since they
went to Turkish waters to look after
American subjects. Reports OF mishaps
to both ships have been frequent but
always have been disproved by official
dispatches.
Ambassador Morgenthau's report of
internal conditions in Turkey since the
Ottoman empire joined the dual alliance
III the war upon the entente powers con-
vinced officials here it would be well to
have both ships remain in the Mediter-
ranean for the present and both have
been going from port to port in Turkish
waters or tAos nearby.
So far Ambassador Morgenthau's re-
ports concerning safety of Americans
have. been reassur:ng. An undercurrent
of uneasiness was created. however,
early this month, when the Turkish
commander at Beirut addressed note
to the American consul general which
he intended for the information of the
French and British governments, de-
claring that for every Mussulman killed
In a bombardment of any open and un-
fortified port. three British or French
subjects would be put to death. and
added that he could not take response
bility for any uprising against the
christians which might follow such an
event.
It was pointed out at the time that
the bombardment of an open or any un-
fortified town was unlikely. as it is pro-
hibited by The Hague convention.
Turks Blame Local Official.
Turkish officials remaining here be-
lieved the firing was the act of some
local official. Washington is awaiting
further reports from the Tennessee
herself before proceeding in the mat
ter. 1t is reported the English and
French are asking their commanders in
the Mediterranean for further partic-
ulars. 1t is the theory of officials that
Captain Decker had been ashore at
Smyrna to pay his respects to Consul
Horton, and that the CONSUL who had
returned the visit, was being taken
back to Smyrna when the launch was
fired upon. It was pointed out that in
making visit to Smyrna the ordin-
ary procedure for the Tennessee would
be to anchor outside the harbor and
send launch ashore. Another view
is that the firing may not have been
intended AZ an unfriendly act but
merely as q warning that the port is
closed. That is said to be the usual
form Of notifying foreign vessels that
port is closed when other notifica-
tions have not been made. vourlah IL
about ten miles from Smyrna. The
uyrDT