The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-11-25
But To Warn Americans
OF Mines Near.
TURKS OFFER AN EXPLANATION
Of Why Shots We're Fired
Across Bows Of Amer
ican Launch.
UNCLE SAM ASKED ABOUT 1T

Washington, Nov. 21.--Dispatch-
es received to-day from Ambassador
Henry Morgenthau, at Constantine
pie, contain the first official explana-
ton of the firing at launch of the
cruiser Tennessee at Smyrna, Tur-
key. According to the Ottoman
Minister of the Interior andWar, the
shots were fired to warn the launch
from passing through a mine field.
The following statement was issu-
ed by the White House tonight:
1.-THE first advices from CONSTANT
nople concerning the Smyrna incl
dent were received this afternoon at
3 o'clock and by 8 O'Clock had been
deciphered. They were promptly
communicated to the President by
the Acting Secretary of State and
the Secretary of the Navy, and the
following summary of their contents
was given out by the President:
Dispatches concerning the Smyr-
ma incident have Just been received
fromAmbassador Morgenthau, which
We're sent before ne had received
any communication from the State
Department. He informs the Gov
eminent that on the evening of the
day on which the incident occurred
(Monday last) the Ottoman Minis
ter of the Interior informed him that
the commander of the Tennessee had
attempted to visit Smyrna in his
steam launch. passing through the
mine zone. contrary to the Turkish
Governments regulations, and that
the boat had been stopped by warn
ing shots fired toward her. He add
ed that the Governor-General, after
the incident, had offered to take the
officer overland in his automobile.
THE Minister of War later com
municated with the Ambassador. full
ly informing him of the incident and
requesting that the Tennessee. which
was then at Vurla, some distance
from the harbor of Smyrna, should
be withdrawn. The Embassy had
been officially informed some time
ago that the port of Smyrna was
alike closed to warships and mer-
chant vessels. The Ambassador
therefore requested Captain Decker
to withdraw, and he did so, pro-
ceeding to the Island of Chios.
Owing to the extreme difficulty
of communicating with Constantly
nople, no further advices have been
received Instructions had already
been sent to the Ambassador. We
are still awaiting the Ambassador
reply to those instructions"
The fact that the Governor Gen
eral of Smyrna had offered to take
Captain Decker of the Tennessee by
automobile to the American Consul
late at Smyrna, officials here de-
clared. indicated clearly the friend
illness of the Turkish officials. The
right of belligerent TO mine It's
ports and exclude neutral merchant
men as well as warships. is recog-
nized In international law. and the
only ground on which the subject
probably will be further discussed
will be to elicit from the Ottoman
Government some definite guaran-
tees respecting the safety of Amer
leans and their interests. so that 1t
will not be necessary for American
warships TO visit Turkish ports.
Before Mr.. Morgenthas's dis
patch was received the White
House issued statement saying
the firing on the cruisers launch
was reported by Captain Decker as
not a hostile act. but that explana-
tions had been asked from the Turk
tsh Government