The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-11-19
STATES
SHIPS REPORTED
FIRED upon
LAUNCH is DRIVEN OUT OF THE
HARsoR AT SMYRNA.
NO OFFICIAL NEWS AS YET
Secretary Daniels, of the Navy De-
partment, is Disposed to Doubt
the story-An investigation
is Being Made.

London, Nov. 18.-The admiralty
lis trying to ascertain the facts of the
report that q launch from the U, ).
cruiser Tennessee was fired on by
Ithe Turkish forts at the entrance of
the harbor OF Smyrna. The reports
are that the American commander
asked permission to enter and when
this was refused started in anyway,
only to be riven back by the gun fire,
Ut is also said that the Turks fired
blank cartridges to warn the Ameri-
cans of the danger of mines.
Launch Reported Under Fire.
Athens, Nov. 1S.-A launch from
the United States cruiser Tennessee
which was entering the Gulf of
Smyrna to arrange for the cruiser
to come into the harbor. was fired
upon by the forts and compelled to
return to the Tennessee.
The commander OF the Tennessee
informed the Palli that ne had or
lders from his government to enter
the harbor of Smyrna and had de-
cided to do So"
No Cause For Alarm.
Washington, Nov. 1S.-Admitting
that boat had been fired at launch.
i ed from the United States cruiser
Tennessee, flying the stars and
stripes, in Turkish waters, high ad-
ministration officials declared EN-
phatieally this afternoon that there
is no immediate cause for alarm,
The fact that the boat was fired or
lis all that is at present known a.
1.-THE navy department. Secretary
Daniels has demanded complete in
formation from Captain Decker, .
the cruiser. -.@..
United States to Mark Time.
In the absence of these particulars
the United States will mark time
THE Tennessee is now in the Greek
harbor of Chios. 1t was from there
that Captain Decker's preliminary
report was received by the navy de-
partment. According to this report
the cruiser had sent a launch to
Smyrna to investigate conditions
there and to determine how much
truth there was in the report that
American interests in Symrna were
in danger and that Europeans in the
city we're in peril. Secretary Dan
ies reported the matter to President
Wilson and then took up considera-
ton of it with Acting Secretary Of
State Lansing.
Second Main Disaster Rumored.
The latter at once attempted to
get into communication with Ambas-
sador Morgenthau at Constantinople
so that the ambassador can take
what ever steps may later be deter.
mined necessary. Reports that the
Tennessee and North Carolina might
be Immediately recalled from Euro
pean awters in order to avoid an
other Maine disaster were widely
CIRCULATED after the report of the
firing on the launch was confirmed.
v. s. Marines Aid Foreigners.
An earlier dispatch from Athens
said: THE Tennessee has arrived at
Vurla to put a stop to the ill-treatment
of the British, French and Russian res.
idents. The authorities of Smyrna,
fearing a bombardment, have left for
the interior. The garrison at Smyrna
at present consists of $4,000 soldiers. "
(Vurla is one of the forts guarding
the entrance to the Bay of Smyrna. II
is about twenty-five miles from the
| town of Smyrna and commands the
| narrow entry from the gulf. AS Vurla
itself is in the gulf, the above dispatch
probably refers to the Tennessee's de,
! sire to pass VUrla and enter the Bay
OF Smyrna instead of the Gulf OF
: Smyrna as stately
Turks XIII 1000 Indian Troops.
London, Nov. 1S.-British Indian
troops lost 1000 in killed when at
tackled by the Turks near Fac on the
coast of Basra in the Persian gulf, &C
cording to an official announcement
made in Constantinople.
| A dispatch from Athens says:
! 1.-THE Turks lost $50 men and two
guns were destroyed In the lombard
ment OF the forts of the Dardanelles
THE former German cruisers, Goe
ben and Breslau, which now fly thu
Turkish flag, have re-entered the Bos
lporus."
U. S, is Not Informed.
Washington. Nov. Is. Secretar!
daniels of the navy, thinks tina
! there Is mistake in the report tina
tAe Turkish forts shelled the launcl
from the U. S. warship Tennessee
Every effort is being made 10 get
report from Captain Decker. OF tn
vessel,
Secretary Daniels Not Alarmed.
Mr.. Daniels said the Tennessee
had not been ordered to 60 int
lSymrna harbor; that the command
i CONTINUED on Page 2.l