Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-11-19
United States Government
Makes Inquiry Regarding
Incident TO American Navy
In Harbor Of Smyrna.
ADMINISTRATION NOT
TO BE DRAWN INTO WAR
Apology From Constantinople
Rulers Is Expected Should
MoSIem Officer Exceed His
Authority,
-, -onmss ,ousn.. SPECIAL ls.sso w,.ri


Washington, Nov. iS.-Thc United
States government has directed Ann
bassador Henry Morgcnthau at Con-
stantinople to ask the Ottoman gov
ernment for an explanation OF the fir.
/ ing by Turkish land forces at q
launch from the American cruiser
Tennessee proceeding from Vourlah
to the American consulate at Smyrna.
Asia Minor.
Secretary Daniels. with the APP
proval of President Wilson, simuItan-
eously cabled the commanders of the
Tennessee and the North Carolina,
also in the Mediterranean to take no
action which might embarrass the
American government and to await
specific Instructions from Washington
concerning the general situation.
! Those steps followed the receipt OF
message from Capt. Benton c.
Decker. commander of the Tennessee,
which was paraphrased in this state
! ment from the navy department:
Messages From Captain.
Capt d. c. Decker, in command of
lflt It1ntSStts NfItu Nttfttdte ihH-
iels this morning that while proceed
/ ing from vourlah to Smyrna, to make
/ official calls boat was fired at Con-
sui anxious for safety of consulate.
Tennessee proceeded TO and left
Vourlah at request of ambassador and
! Is now anchored in the harbor of Scio
tchios) Greece. from which Captain
Deeker's telegram was sent. secre-
tary Daniels wired for fuller irforma-
tion'
Although without definite details
as to just what occurred. high officials
of the Washington government had
no doubt that the incident, no mat
ter where the responsibility lay, would.
be promptly adjusted through diplo-
matte channels. President Wilson is
determined that under no circum-
stances shall the United States be
involved in war with Turkey. If the
Turkish officers acted without the
authority of the Ottoman government
land the firing was not justified by ma
lval procedure in a closed port, 1t Is
confidently believed here today that
the ottoman government will render
apology
Cable Messages Slow.
ON account of the slow communica-
tion from constanllnople through
the only available route--Bulgaria,
ltumunia, Austria and ltaly---no mes
sage concerning the incident came
from Ambassador Morgenthau, his
last dispatches dated November IA,
only arriving today They were of a
routine character.
With the navy's message as the only
basis for Judgment. President Wilson
and administration officials were
considerably puzzled over the affair.
The president telephoned Secretary
Daniels several times during the day
and also discussed the situation with
Acting Secretary Lansing.
Doubt Intended Hostility.
Two suggestions were vouchsafed
BY high officials although they ad- I
mitted that their views were purely !
speculative. The firing, they thought, ,
probably was friendly act giving the |
customary warning by single shot I
signifying to the Tennessee's launch +
that the port of Smyrna was mined !
and eolsed, or else the boat was
turned back because it attempted to |
enter without previous arrangements |
having been made with the Turkish
authorities. Officials Of the govern
ment declined to believe that the fir /
inr was an unfriendly or hostile act.
Assurances given by the porte have
pledged protection and the
closest friendship for American citi-
zens. However, when the American
warsbips first went to Turkey to pro-
tect American interests and deliver
gold Tor the reiiei VI h'issioha'i.s