Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-11-23
Two Ottoman Ministers Make Clear
to American Envoy Action
Not Hostile.
FORMAL REPLY IS AWAITED
Governor General Offered to Take
Decker to City in Auto.
DANIELS TO RESCIND ORDER
Secretary of Navy VIII Allow COm-
manders of Tennessee and North
Carolina Latitude They
Previously Enjoyed.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Turkey
has voluntarily explained to the
United States government through
Ambassador Morganthau, that the
firing toward the launch of the
American cruiser Tennessee last
Monday was intended merely as the
customary warning that the port of
Smyrna was mined and closed to
navigation.
Although the explanation was informal
and the United States government still
Is awaiting reply to formal represen-
tations, which Ambassador Morganthau
was instructed to make TO the Turkish
foreign office. 1t was generally admitted
at the White House that all danger of
serious complications over the incident
had been removed.
Make Full Explanation.
Ambassador Morganthau reported that
two members OF the Ottoman cabinet. the
ministers of interior and war. had fully
| explained the occurrence to him and high
officials here said his message was filed
before the Instructions sent from WASH
ington to discuss the subject with the
grand visier could have been received
by Mr.. Morganthau.
/ President Wilson and hts cabinet re-
gard the Informal explanation as n cer-
tain precursor of a satisfactory formal
explanation and that guarantees for the
protection of Americans and their inter-
ests win also be Forthcoming from the
Turkish government.
VIII ReHcind order.
Secretary Daniels announced that his
order TO the commanders of the Tennes-
see and North Carolina. suspending the
navy regulations, which ordinarily give
them wide discretion, would be IN effect
only until the present incident was ex-
planned
Tomorrow he will rescind that order
and give tho captains Of the two Ameri-
can warships the same latitude they had
previously enjoyed The vessels may not
remain in Turkish territory waters. but
will stay within a half days sailing of
the islands now belonging 20 Greece.
Summary of Dispatch.
The following summary of the dispatch
was given out at the White House;
"Dispatches concerning the Smyrna in-s
cident have just been received from Am
bassador Morganthau, which were sent
before he had received any communication
from the State department.
HE informs the government that on
the evening OF the day on which the Incl
dent occurred monday last the Ottoman
minister of the interior informed him that
the commander of the Tennessee had at
tempted TO visit Smyrna In his steam
launch, passing through the mine zone.
contrary 10 the Turkish government s
regulations, and that the boat had been
stopped by warning shots fired towards it.
Requests. withdrawal.
He added that the governor general.
after the Incident. had offered to take
the officer overland in his automobile.
The minister of war later communicated
with the ambassador. fully informing him
of the incident and requesting that the
Tennessee, which was then at Vourlah.
some distance from the harbor of Smyrna,
should be withdrawn.
The embassy had some time ago been
officially informed that the port of
smyrna was closed alike to warships and
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