Evening star., 1915-04-15
NO NAVAL BASE
At TURTLE BAY
Reported Establishment in
Lower California Held Absurd
by Japanese Embassy.
SALVAGING OF STRANDED
CRUISER ONLY WORK ON
Nippon Has No Intention of Locat-
ing on West Coast of Mexico,
Statement Says.


the japanese embassy today charac-
terized as 'preposterous' reports that
a naval base had been established at
Turtle bay, Lower California, and de-
clared: There never has been any in
tention on the part of the Japanese
government to locate naval base OF
occupy any territory on the west coast
of Mexico.
Dispatches from Los Angeles telling
of the gathering OF foreign warships III
the secluded Mexican haven. of a large
camp ashore and of mines laid IN fhe
harbor. created no sensation among
Washington officials. Assistant Secfe-
tary Roosevelt said the Navy Depart
ment was without advices as to just what
had happened. but that If anything ex-
traordnary was going on it certainly
would have been reported by the Amer
lean warships in the vicinity. He added
that it would not be unusual If the
japanese had landed in connection with
their efforts to save the Asama.
There to Save Cruiser.
Operations of japanese warships in
Turtle bay. embassy officials said. were
solely for the purpose of salvaging the
stranded cruiser Asama 1t was stated
that while detailed reports from the
consul general at San Francisco was
handling the matter, landing on tne
shore of the bay probably had been
found necessary in connection with the
salvage work.
OF reports that q naval base had been
established the embassy statement said ::
'It is more than absurd 1t is pre-
posterous. There never has been any
intention on the part of the Japanese
government to locate naval base. or
N
coast of Mexico. A few Japanese fisher
men, about a score in number perhaps.
frequent the waters of this bay. but
they have no connection whatever
with the Japanese naval establish
ment.'
When the Asama first went ashore
and news of her plight came to Wash
ington every effort was made to pre-
Germany before assistance could be
sent.
u. S. Cruisers Went to Aid.
Responding to the call for immediate
succor for the personnel of the Asama,
Admiral Howard hastened to Turtle
bay from San Diego on his flagship.
the cruiser San Diego. and the cruiser
Raleigh also went to the scene. But
before the aid of these ships could be
extended, Japanese collier and two
"
miral Howard steamed away.
A Japanese guard lras been main
tanned i'll the bay and vicinity since,
while the Japanese government has en-
deavored to make arrangements with
American wrecking companies to float
the Asama. Inquiries from some of
these companies as to whether relief
work could be undertaken without vio-
lation of neutrality developed no oppo-
sition on the part of the State Depart
ment here. though it was pointed out
that the question was one for the Mex
lean government to decide.
The country along the lower Cali
fornia coast is barren and without rail-
road or Geographic communication
with the rest of the world, and passing
vessels keep well out to sea because
of the dangerous coast, so that it is a
rare thing for news TO reach the outer
world.
The Reported Occupation.
A dispatch from Les Angeles yester-
day afternoon said that staff corre-
spondent of the Los Angeles Times re-
ported that Japanese marines and
sailors 1000 strong, backed by five
japanese warships and six colliers and
supply ships had occupied Turtle bay.
Lower California, Mexico, 4g9 miles
from San Diego.
Consul General Denies Report
SAN FRANCISCO. April lJ.-Yusa-
taro humane. Japanese consul general
in San Francisco. says that the report
ed presence of Japanese vessels in Tur-
tie bay. on the Lower California coast,
is for the salvage of the stranded
Asama.
II don't know of any .warships hav-
ing been there" he said, referring to
a report from Los Angeles corre-
spondent. -. know that GOLFERS have
been there continuing efforts to float
the Asama. Japanese warships cruis-
ing from the coast of Lower California
to Honolulu may have gone III to in
spect the Asama. [ am confident how
ever, that no large number of men or
vessels has been there at any one
time.