The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1914-11-20
WAS INTENDED
To WARN Us
AGAINST ALLIES
OFFICIALS CONFIDENT MATTER
WILL BE ADJUSTED BY
DIPLOMACY.
FULL REPORT NOT RECEIVED
Wilson and Daniels Ere Determined
to Avoid Involving United States
in European War-Th5y Are Calm
ly Awaiting Details.

Washington, Nov. 19.--E finite de-
tails Of the adventure of t. cruiser
tennessee in the Gulf O. Smyrna
were eagerly awaited today by ad-
mlnlstration officials, who NAMED
confident that the affair p omptlv
would be adjusted through cl 1nnels
of diplomacy. Ambassador n ~a,-
thau had been directed to maui:
the Turkish government why lauI
forces had fired on the Tennessee's
launch as it steamed from Vouriah to
Smyrna, to investigate conditions at
the American consulate, and the
commissioners of the Tennessee and
her sister ship, North Carolina, IL
nearby waters, had instructions to
make no move that might embarrass
the Washington government
President Wilson was determined
that the United States should not be-
come involved in trouble with Turkey,
and confidence was expressed that if
the Turkish officers had acted WITH
out authority of their government or
the firing was unjustified by naval
procedure that the ports would apo =
gize.
Secretary Daniels summed up his
view of the incident by declaring he
believed detailed reports would show
that the firing was intended as a
friendly warning to prevent the
launch from entering mined waters.
Il believe that when Capt Decker s
report is received, it will prove that
The firing was a friendly and not an
unfriendly act said the secretary.
Reports that the waters of the
smyrna harEor are mined indica te
that the shots were fired to warn the
vessel against the danger Of min IS
which it might have come into con-
tact with had 1t entered the harbor
Another explanation advanced by
Mr.. Daniels was that the port had
been officially closed, and that the
approach of the vessels caused the
guns of the fort to sound warning
to prevent it from trespassing.
The Tennessee today was at Scio
(Chlos) In the Aegean sea, from
where Capt. Decker wired his brief
report. Owing to slow communica
ton it was believed possibly day
or two might elapse before he could
cable additional details, and Ambas-
sador Morgenthau's report on his
inquiry of the Constantinople govern
ment
Protection and friendship for for
eigners in Turkey have been pledged
by the ports, but since that time the
United States has assumed charge OF
diplomatic interests of the allies, with
whom Turkey now is at war, result
4 ing in conditions marked by delicate
responsibilities. Activities by some
Mohammedan leaders caused appre
hension on the part of Americans, as
we'll as French and British subjects
and that was reported by the United
States consul at Smyrna to Ambassa
dor Morgenthau.
When an investigation of conditions
at the consulate was determined upon
the Tennessee stood off at Vourlah
and sent a launch on the way tc
Smyrna. Under navy regulations, il
was said. Capt. Decker would have
been justified in attempting to enter
the harbor to, inquire into affairs at
the consulate, regardless Of whether
Smyrna port was closed.
Apparently. however, he did not
continue on his way to smyrna, but