The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-11-20

dIIiNeu III CnlS pOTC To-Day. IL is SCaC-
ed that yesterday while the captain of
1.-THE Tennessee was in the ships launch
which was flying the American flag
its on the Turkish officials at Smyrna,
three solid shots were fired on the
boat by the forts. The American am
bassador, Henry Morgenthau, without
Investigating the incident, it is said,
Immediately ordered the Tennessee
from Turkish waters at the request of
Turkish officials.
Chios, at which port the cruiser
Tennessee has arrived, is the capital
of the island of the same name To-
Gated about four miles off the coast
of Asia Minor and near the Gulf of
Smyrna. The island formerly be-
longed to Turkey, but as a result of
the Balkan war was turned over to
Greece. A great portion of the popu-
lation of 10000 are Greeks.
Dispatches from Athens yesterday
reported that the Tennessee had ar
rived at the port of Vura, in the Gulf
of Smyrna, and that her appearance
had put stop to the ill-treatment
of British, Russian and French resi-
dents. The authorities of Smyrna.
the dispatch adds, fearing lombard
iHeIll, ldu ielI lot llle lnIeTlOT.
Capt. Benton Clark Decker is in
New York on August with nearly
$6,OOO,0OO in gold on board for the
relief of the American tourists
stranded in Eurone. The warship
first went to England, then to France
and finally entered the Mediterranean
where she visited several ports in
pursuance of her relief work.
Captain Reports Incident.
Washington, November 18.-Cap-
tain Decker, of the cruiser Tennessee,
reported to Secretary Daniels today
that while proceeding from Vourlah
to Smyrna to make an official call, the
vessel was fired on. ~
An earlier dispatch from Capt,
Decker reporting the Tennessee's arr
rival at Vourlah at o'clock yesterday,
made no. mention of the incident. y -
Mr.. Daniels issued statement say
ing the American consul at Smyrna
had been anxious for the safety of the
consulate.
"The Tennessee" added Mr.. Dan
iels' statement. proceeded to and left
Vourlah at the request of the ambas-
sador and is now anchored in the har-
Dor of Schio (Chios) from which
SdpI. beCheT y was SeUI.
Secretary Daniels has called upon
Capt. Decker to forward Immediately
full report of the incident
Capt. Decker's report, confirming
last nights news dispatches, which
officials hoped and believed were in
accurate, threw them today into a
state of amazed wonder. Every effort
is being made to get more complete
reports of the incident from the Ten
nessee's commander. The report
from him does not say whether the
Tennessee or her launch, as was re-
ported in news dispatches, had been
fired upon.
Aside from being considered as a
hostile act, the firing may be explain
ed in various ways. The first report
said the cruisers launch had been
turned by three shots from the forts
as it was entering the harbor of
Smyrna. Officials say the launch may
have been entering during prohibited
hours or the forts may have taken
that method of warning the ship
against mine fields in the harbor.
There has been considerable uneasi-
ness about the Tennessee, and also
the North Carolina. her sister shin.
since they went to Turkish waters to
look after the interests of Americans
after their voyage to the European
contingent with gold for stranded
tourists. Reports of mishaps to both
ships have been frequent, but always
have been disproved by official dis
patches.
Ambassador Morgenthau's reports
! of internal conditions in Turkey, since
the Ottoman Empire joined the dual
alliance in the war upon the entente
| powers. convinced officials here it
would be well 20 have both ships re-
main in the Mediterranean for the
present. Both cruisers have been 90
| ing from port to port in Turkish wa
| ters or those nearby.
So far, Ambassador Morgenthau's
reports concerning the safety of Am
| orleans have been reassuring. An un-
dercurrent of uneasiness was created,
however, early this month when the
Turkish commander at Beirut ad-
dressed a note to the American con-
sui general which he intended for the
information of the French and Brit.
ish government, declaring that for ev-
cry Mussulman killed in a lombard
ment of any open and unfortified port,
three British or French subjects
would be put to death. The note add
ed that the Turkish commander could
not take the responsibility for any
uprising against Christians which
might follow such an event.
1t was pointed out at the time that
the bombardment of any open and un-
fortified towns was unlikely az it is
prohibited by the Hague convention.
Those Turkish officials who remain
at the embassy here were confident
that if the Tennessee had been fired
upon it was the act of some local of
ficial which would quickly be taken
| up by the Constantinople government