The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-09
WANT LET SHIP PASS
I. S. GOLD SHIP CANNOT PASS
TURKISH MINES
Grand Vizier Refuses Request Made
for Vessels Passage, Saying Wat
srs of Bardanelles Are Mined:

Turkey has declined to grant the
request ST the United States for per
mission to send the cruiser North
Carolina through the Dardanellcs to
Constantinople to deliver S150,000 in
gold deposited here for the relief of
Americans in tie Ottoman Empire.
The Grand Vizisr has informed the
American Government that the wat
ers of the Dardanelles are mined and
that it would be unsafe for a vessel
as large as the North Carolina to go
through the straits. He, declared al
so that it might establish q precedent
for the passage of other foreign war
ships and suggested that the !Ameri-
can naval yatch Scorpion on duty in
Turkish waters, be ssnt to sea to
meet the North Carolina
This was the substance of long
cabIegram received at the White
House and State department Thurs
day form Ambassador Morganthau,
the first message from him in several
days. The ambassador made no
mention of any declaration Of war.
but referred to the diplomatic situa-
ton as highly critical.
The ambassador reported that all
Americans who wished to leave had
done so, and he thought funds aboard
the North Carolina would be sufficient
for immediate needs.
In view of the delicate situation the
American ambassador suggested that
the plan of sending the Scorpion to
meet the North Carolina outside the
straits be adopted. The incident
was discussed at the navy and State
departments to-day and the North
Carolina, now at Falmout, England,
will start tomorrow for the Iediter-
renean. She probably will touch at
Italian ports and take aboard Assist
ant Secretary Breckenridge, reaching
the Dardanelles in week or ten
days.
BY the time of her arrival officials
here expect Turkey will have declar-
ed war on either Russia or Great
Britain. In that even they deem it
more prudent to keep the cruiser
away form the scene of possible naval
conflict.
The incident recalled past rela-
tions between the United States and
Turkey on the passage of foreign
warships through the Dardanelles.
The United States never has recogniz-
ed the right of Turkey to close the
straits to foreign warships in time Of
peace. although European Powers
have agreed to it. The American
Government merely has recognized
the custom of excluding foreign war
ships as "a usage.
From Turkish officials it was learn
ed that the first declaration OF war
probably would be aginst Russia, and
that Turkeys delay in announcing
her intentions was due to her de-
sire to complete military prepara-
tions. The Turkish ambassador said
Turkish mobilization had been in pro-
sress for nearly month, and that he
believed 100000. or possibly a mill
ION, men had been enrolled. He le-
jterated that the mobilization mas
~ .inoS Of Greece or Bulgaria
Diplomats generally believe Greece
Immediately will align herself with
the allies against Turkey if the latter
declares war. The expectation also
is growing that Italy is preparing to
side with the allies. If she intends
20 stand by Germany and Austria,
.hey believe, notification already
would have been sent to Italian SHIPS
% stay in neutral ports and AVOID
British war vessels.