The Yale expositor., 1914-11-26
SHOTS fired BY
TURKS TOWARDU.S
BOAT EXPLAINED
Was Meant as Friendly Warn
ing That Port of Smyrna
Was Mined and Closed
WASHINGTON SATISFIED
BY INFORMAL MESSAGE
Situation Which Threatened Com
plications in Orient is Believed
When Morgenthau Is
Heard From.

ashington-Turkey has voluntar-
lily explained to the United States gov
errment through Ambassador Nor
genthau that the shots fired toward
the launch Of the American cruiser
Tennessee last Monday were intended
merely as the customary warning that
the port of Smyrna was mined and
closed to navigation.
Although the explanation is in
formal, it was generally admitted at
the White House, state and navy de-
partments, that all danger Of serious
complications over the incident had
been removed.
Ambassador Morgenthau reported
that two members of the Ottoman
cabinet, the ministers of interior and
war, had fully explained the occur
ence to him and high officials here
said his message was fled before the
instructions sent from Washington
to discuss the subject officially with
the grand vizier could have been re-
ceived by Mr.. Morgenthau.
Explanation is Accepted.
President Wilson and his cabinet
regard the informal explanation as
a certain precursor of a satisfactory
formal explanation and that guaran-
tees for the protection of Americans
and their interests will also be forth
coming from the Turkish government.
The message from Mr.. Morgenthau
dated November 16, but delayed en-
route, relieved a delicate situation.
II arrived late In the afternoon Satur-
day and after being deciphered was
discussed at a conference between
the president, Secretary Daniels and
Acting Secretary Lansing of the state
department.
Russians Await Relnforcements.
Petrograd-The German column be-
tween the Wharf.-The and Vistula rivers,
according to Sundays official reports
from Russian Poland, comprises six
army corps and represents a front SO
miles in extent. The two rivers pre-
vent thanking by either side, hence the
fighting consists of straight frontal at
tacks, in which the losses Of both
armies are heavy, but neither side so
far has been able to gain a marked
advantage.
The Germans, military observers
contend, cannot advance further in
this region, since the Russian concen-
tration, which was delayed by bad
roads and by lack of railroads, now
is complete.
Dispatches received in Petrograd
from Tiflis, transcausasia, explain the
halt in the Russian advance toward
Koprykoi was due to the discovery
that an entire Turkish army was
massed at Erzerum. The Russians
are contenting thmselves, it ia said
with holding their positions while
awaiting achievements.
Germans Claim Success.
Berlin, via Rome-Apparently nc
decision has been reached in the grea'
eastern battle which is beiAg fougbI
in the territory between tae Wartha
and the Vistula rivers, although BEr
lin is filed with rumors OF a great
victory. No authentic private In
formation is available; TIE official ne
ports continue to register a sucees
sion of tactical successes which may
form the basis for a decisive VICTORY
Gen. Won Hindenburg and AreAduk,
Charles Francis, of Austria, seem {,
have accepted battle. along q battl
line highly favorable. strategieslly I,
| pressing home central attacl
against the enemy who is sufferint
the same disadvantages as the Gel
mans encountered before the WARSAW
IvaagosOd line recently.
The road in the Russians rear ar
in wretched state, the German
having accomplished a thorough joI
OF destruction on their retirement
The Russians are jammed together OF
three sides and are hampered great,
In bringing up supplies.
The military critic of Vossisch
Zeitung considers the Austro- German
situation as extraordinary favorabl
and giving ground for hope of a com
plete victory, in which the Russian
may be cut off entirely from a lin
of retreat He says that the success
which the Germans claim near Ger
stochowa is particularly encouraging
as IL relieves the situation on tn
Silesian frontier.