Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-18
SHOT AT FLAG
FAILS TO STIR
U.S.. OFFICIALS
Turks, in Firing on Tennes-
see Marines, May Have
Been Giving Friendly
Warning, Declares Daniels
wAsH1NGroN. So 1a

WASHINGTON, Nov. H.
Announcing that a shot had been fires
at launch from the cruiser Tenneraee.
flying the Stars and Stripes in Turkish
waters, Administration officials today de-
clared emphatically that there was ne
immediate cause for alarm. The fact
that the shot had been fred Is all that
at present is known by the Navy De-
partment. Secretary Of the Navy Daniels.
has requested complete information from
Captain Benton Decker, OF the cruiser
In the absence OF these particulars the
United States will mark time"
The Tennessee is now in the harbor Of
Chios in the Aegean. II was from there
that Captain Decker's preliminary report
was received by the Navy Department..
According TO this report the cruiser had
sent launch to Smyrna to pay respects
to the customs officials and to investi.
gate conditions there and to determine
how much truth was in the report that
American interests in Smyrna were in
danger and that Europeans in the city,
were In grave danger.
The point which caused more anxiety
at the State Department than the plight
of the Tennessee, which admittedly can
take care OF itself, was the declaration
by Captain Decker that Consul Horton
was anxious for the safety of the Con-
sulate. This was interpreted to indicate
that there was much anti-foreign feeling
in Smyrna
Secretary Daniels reported the matter
to Presidents Wilson and then took up
consideration of 1t with Acting Secretary
of State Lansing. The latter at once at
tempted to get into communication with
Ambassador Morgenthau at Constantine
pie so that the Ambassador might take
whatever steps may later be deemed
necessary.
The report from Captain Decker, ac-
cording to the information reaching Sec
retary Daniels, said that "his boat had
been fired on. At first this was inter
preted as meaning the cruiser Tennesses
herself. The Tennessee left at once for
Chios upon urgent advice of Ambassador
Morgenthau, II Is said. @
Secretary Daniels, in discussing the
matter, said
ent time is indefinite. That a shot was
fired Is all that we know. Whether II
was fred with hostile intent or as a
warning is yet to be explained by Cap
tain Decker.
Smyrna is now closed port The pre-
sumption is that It is mined. The land
forts may have fired shot either to
prevent the launch--or even possibly the
Tennessee ltself-from entering the hRr-
bor OF from running on a mine held.
hope that this may be the case. But In
any event we cannot take any steps in
the matter until we have the official facts
before us" y
President Wilson anxiously awaited all
information on the subject. He directed
that all reports received be sent directly
to him. Incidentally 1t was learned that
he expressed confidence that the occur
renee would not become an international
incident
report received here by way OF
Montreal that Ambassador Morgenthau
char
acterized at both the State Department
and at the White House as absurd.
Acting Secretary of State Lansing ex-
planned that he had been out OF touch
with Constantinople for two days This
is due to the interruption OF certain direct
cable communications and also to the fact
messages have to pass through the terri
tory of belligerents. And so far as direct
communication with Smyrna is concerned
the Secretary said that all word from
and TO Asia Minor took from two to nYe
days.
The State Department is trying to get
into communication with George Horton
the American Consul at Smyrna. Horton,
with Leland B. Morris and James B. VIII
kinson, Is In charge OF American interests
there, but no direct word has been re-
ceived from him for some days.
Reports that the Tennessee and North
Carolina might be Immediately recalled
from European waters In order to avoid
another Maine disaster were widely
circulated after the report was confirmed
of the fring of the shot. But Secrstary
Daniels and other navy ofncials would
not discuss that phase Of the matter.
1--WE sent those vessels to Turkey with
funds for the relief OF Americans who
were unable to get money In Turkey
after the outbreak OF the European war,
said the Secretary. "since then We have
kept them there to AFFORD whatever as
sistance and relief they could to Amer
leans in the war zone. Our future action
70 be determined