Evening star., 1914-11-21
FIRING BY TURKS
Z NOT HOSTILE ACT
Capt. Decker Of Cruiser Ten
nessee Reports on Shot
Sent Across Launch.
SAME INFORMATION GIVEN
IN MESSAGE NOV. 18
Withheld by Secretary Daniels,
However, as It Appeared to
Be Contradictory.

Capt. Benton c. Decker of the cruiser
Tennessee reported to the United
states government today that the firing
on the ships launch by the Turkish
forts at Smyrna, Asia Minor. November
IT, was not ptended as hostile act
An official statement. covering this de-
velopment, was made at the White
House by Secretary Tumulty after a
conference with President Wilson.
Following this announcement Secre-
tary Daniels gave out statement that
a portion of the first report made by
Capt. Decker last Wednesday had not
been made public when received because
it was considered contradictory. He
announced that Capt. Deckers S dispatch
reporting the firing contained the words
'.act not hostile, but unfriendly.
The statement given out by the Navy
Department omitted the contradictory
phrase, according to Mr.. Daniels. In
order to verify it. and today came
word that the message was correct as
originally sent. Secretary Daniels was
unable to explain it's meaning, and said
that it seemed to him an expression Of
opinion by the captain OF the Ten
nessee without exact knowledge OF
what took place on shore.
At the White House the statement
issued said Capt. Decker had reported
the firing as mot an hostile act" the
view being taken that the first part
of the phrase meant that the shots
were not aimed to take effect, but as
a warning, because the port of Smyrna
was mined and closed
White House Statement.
The statement given out at the White
House today is as follows:
''The public already knows what hap
pened, namely, boat from the Ten
nessee tried to enter the harbor. a har-
Dor which the Turkish government had
declared closed. A shot was fired across
'ier bow to stop her. The captain of
The Tennessee reports that 1t was not in
tended as an hostile act.
"A full Investigation Of the matter
is being made and explanations have
Deen asked of the Turkish government
Previous attempts to communicate with
Ambassador Morgenthau, in Constan-
tlnople, have led to delays of as much
as week."
Secretary Daniels said that he had re.
ceived no further messages from Capt
Decker since the first report and that
ing investigation by Ambassador Nor
genthau. [.z-s..
Mr.. Daniels does not think Capt
Decker could possibly know what oc-
On the SHORE, as MS launch I'M
mediately turned back. He said the
contradictory phrase had been omitted
in his announcement because it seemed
only an expression of opinion which in
itself was inexplicable.
orders Only Temporary.
Mr.. Daniels stated that the orders is
sued to the commanders of the North
Carolina and Tennessee prohibiting
them from taking any action without
specific instructions from Washington
was merely Of a temporary character
until the State Department had COM
pleted its investigation of the particu-
lar incident connected with the firing
the usual wide discretion imposed on
naval officers by the navy regulations
would be in effect again later.
There Is no intention of Withdrawing
either vessel, as some of the American
residents are said to be, disturbed over
the general conditions in Turkey. 1t
was suggested in high official quarters
today that some of the American con-
suls may have given the Turkish au-
thorities the impression that in caring
Tor British and French interests they
were obliged to extend protection to
the subjects of the entente powers
ernment has undertaken for the bellig-
erents in all countries, 1t was pointed
out today, is merely a courtesy and
extends simply to the point of ex-
ercising good offices as between the
belligerents, but does not obligate the
neutral nation to afford any protection
whatsoever.