Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-19
Decline to Believe Firing
on Launch Is Unfriendly
or Hostile Act.
5M0RGENTHAU DIRECTED
s TO MAKE PROMPT REPORT
u. S. S. Commanders Must Take
No Action Which Might En-
barrass Government.
70 AWAIT SPECIFIC ORDERS
Wilson Determined That Under No
Circumstances VIII Nation BE j,
Involved With Turkey.

WASHINGTON. November Is.--Tbe
.nitcd States government has directed
-.H1oassahor Henry Morgnnthau at
'3hstanfinople. ~ ask an explanation
oih;he firing by Turkish land forces a I
~ - ti""nch from the American cruiser
tennessee proceeding from yourlah 10
.he American consnla,o al smvrna ~
n9a Minor. Secretary Daniels slmul-
'aneously cab!cd the commander OF the
rruiscT North Carolina, also in tho
"nditerranean. to take no action which
might rinbarrass the American govern
mont. and TO await specific Instructions
from Washington 81
Ehese steps followed the receipt of
!. message from Captain benton G.
Decker. commander OF the Tennessee.
phdraphrased In this statement from
tie Navy Departments:
Captain =. c. Decker, in command
2r' tthc Tenncssce. wired Secretary
p ipanicls this morning that while pro-
cecding from Nourlahy to Smyrna. to
make official calls. ships boat was
iired at Decker was anxious for the
safety of tho consulate. The Teunes-
see proceeded tn and left Vourlah at
he sreQuest Of the American ambas-
Sadur, and lis now at anchor In the
''ars,or OF Scio tChiosD, Greece. from
which place Captain Decker's Telegram,
was tscnt. Secretary Daniels wired for
fuller information"
Although without definite details As
10 just what occurred. high officials
OF tile Washington government had no
Ioubk that the incident, no matter
: where the responsibility lay. would be
adjusted promptly through diplomatic
channels. President Wileon is deter
f, mined that under no circumstances
shall the United States he involved in
war Yith Turkey,
oEFIILtLs PUZZLED
OVER, WHAT HAS OCCURRED
ON account of the slow cable com :
ls$ation from tionstantinoplc. no
,'ess1sc concerning the incfdent came
from Ambassador Morgenthuu. witt,
tho @T.y's message as the only basis
for Jsdgmcnt President Wilson and
administration officials were puzzled
over Ehat had occurred. The Presi-
dent 'slcphonei Secretary Daniels sew
.ral times during the day, and also
discussed the situation with Acting
Secretary Lansing.
TWO suggestions were vouchsafed b..
s nigh 9nlcials, although they admitted
their views were purely speculative.
The iting. they thought. probably was
friendly act. giving the customary.
,arnine by q single shot. signifying
tn the Tcnnessec's launch that tho port
Of Smyrna was mined and closed. or
"lsc the boat was turned back because
u attempted 10 enter without previous
ties.
Officials declined to believe the nr-
ing WAS an unfriendly or hostile act
Assurances given by the Porte have
repeatedly pledged protection and the
closest friendship for American cit
inens. However. when the American
warshps hrst went TO the Medlterra
mean. Turkey vas at peace. Since then
the United States has taken over the
diplomatic interests of Great Britain
and France. with whom tho Forte is
ut Warf circumstance fraught with
delicate responsibilities.
Efforts on the part of some Moham-
rnednn leaders in Turkey TO start n
"hoiy war have made Americans. as
we'll as British and French. subjects
apprchensive. The American consul at
smyrna reported his fears to Anbas-
sador MorRenthau. under whose in
structions tho two warships have been
moving about in Turkish waters.
Twicc9 the Ottoman government has
warned !thc United States that the
nor, Of Smyrna was mined. and the
Tennessee, Il Is understood, had stood
Off at Nourlah, ten miles away, while
i,or launch started for the shore to
Investigate conditions mt the consul
JUSTIFIED IN SEEKING.
TO ENTER HARBOR
Regardless OF whether or not smyr-
ma Is Il closed port, under the regula-
lions of tho United States Navy, Cap
tain Decker would DO justified In
seeking to enter the harbor to ascer-
tain the facts with reference to tho
American consulate and its citizens.
The regulations virtually would
obllsc Captain Decker TO communi-
cate with the American consul at
Smyrna II he had learned that the con-
Sulate was threatened, using his
launch if necessary, regardless of
Al,T, -.
That Captain Decker did not persist
in his attempt TO enter was indicated
by tho tact that his message said he
left at the request of the ambassador,
Who II is presumed here, thought IL
advisable TO withdraw the ship until
n better understanding could be
rcachcJ. " is believed. also that if
the consulate were in grave danger
the Tennessee would not have left for
GrecIan waters
orders TO the commanders OF the
Tennessee and the North Carolina to
refrain from taking steps which might
EN- oarrass the Washington government
until specific INSTRUCTIONS could be
gwen, followed careful consideration
& mere OF the wide latitude which the
navy regulations give to naval officers.
hoth the President and Secretary DAN
iels have absolute confidence In CAP.
tain Decker. Tho following statement
x apout nm was issued to day by the
navy departments.
Cnptain Benton q. Decker. now COM
Z IN ma.nding l.1,i the: United States ship Tennes-
sec, sec, IN Turkish waters. is an officer
with ansseellent record during his SER
: vice OF. twenty -scyen years 5since
graduation from the naval academy, to
which he was appointed from Illinois
I'm 1852. Ho has had considerable on
3pertencea In duty similar tol that which
s he is now performing in Turkish
lcontinucd OH Second pagc.)