The Great White Fleet Visits Smyrna, Turkey

Smyrna, Turkey January 12th to 25th, 1909

Smyrna - Vue general de caratach

Smyrna - Fauberg de Caratach

A BALANCE OF POWER

The political situation in Europe, and particularly the Eastern Mediterranean during this period was a hostile environment. Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, supported by the Bulgarians and the Germans, was apposed by the "Young Turks" that had taken control of the government in Constantinople and did not appreciate the German position. England saw this as an opportunity to possibly get some control of the Dardanelle's and jumped at the chance to support Turkey. Relations with England and German were at there worst and both sides made further preparations for a conflict. It was in this environment that the United States wished to remain neutral despite the requests of the American consuls. Both England and Turkey were delighted that a powerful American Fleet was entering the eastern Mediterranean at this time and wished to use it to there advantage. The Turkish Naval Minister Arif Pasha invited the Americans to a pageant in Constantinople, where "we will attempt to entertain the visitors with fetes comparable to those arranged for them in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand." Amazingly enough, this would have represented a violation of international treaties that had existed for many years, "It is not permitted that foreign battleships shall pass the Dardanelle's," Arif Pasha said, "but I think we can make an exception in favor of the American Admiral Schroeder resisted all pressures to go to Constantinople and enter the straits recognizing it would be taking sides in the conflict and instead headed for Smyrna and worked to salvage Ottoman affections.

These two cards were mailed by M. J. Main, USS Virginia. Both cards are dated January 14, 1909 and contain thoughts of home, "Very pleasant time. Quite Cool Leave here the 25th." "Thanks for the card of the old high school." M. Main

The fleet's visit was carefully planned to avoid choosing sides in the up-coming conflict in Europe. During their port visit a series of small earthquakes shook the buildings causing the planned festivities to be cancelled. Schroeder kept his men aboard for the three days of the quakes. Smyrna was visited by the Virginia and Louisiana, unable to visit Beirut because of the plague, from January 12th to the 25th and was jointed on January 22nd the Missouri and Ohio staying until the 25th when the four ships departed for Gibraltar.

The above group of cards are from the Frank Lesher Collection

THE SEVEN LIVES OF OTTOMAN CRUISER MECIDIYE
This bronze-covered relief of the Turkish Protected-Cruiser Mecidiye and an obelisk was found on my travels in Sri Lanka in an antique shop. It measures about 20-inches long and 7-inches high, and when I saw it I felt it was one of those naval historic artifacts that needed to join my collection. On my return, I started my research and was surprised what I found! Mecidiye was launched on July 25, 1903 at William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia. It was delivered to the Turkish Navy and named after Sultan Adulmecid I, the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. She most likely witnessed the Battleship's of the fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea during their port visit at Smyrna. Her history was long, first participating in the war against Greece, she was attacked by the Greek submarine Delfin with a torpedo that missed, and later participated using shore bombardment to cover landing forces at Sarkoy. In World War I she saw action in the Black Sea as was sunk hitting a Russian mine while shelling Odessa. Twenty-six crewmen lost their lives. Mecidiye was raised and salvaged by the Russians and renamed Prut on October 29th, 1915. But the War was not over, and on May 1st, 1918 she was captured by German forces at Sevastopol and returned to the Ottoman Navy the same month to be re-commissioned as the Mecidiye. At the end of the War, under the terms of the Treaty of Sevres in 1920 she was turned over to the United Kingdom as war compensation, however the Turkish War of Independence and the new Turkish Republic regained the Ottoman Fleet! Mecidiye was among the large surface combatants of the Turkish Navy between 1927 and 1940, when she became a cadet training ship. She was sold for scrap in 1952 and broken up by 1956.

These elements did not stop the American bluejacket from getting out and see what was to be seen. One of the most popular trips was to Ephesus, the ancient Greek city located near Smyrna. The below set of photographs show portions of Ephesus as they appeared in 1909.

These real photo postcards are from the Brown & Schaffer set of photographs that were taken while the fleet was in Symrna. Brown and Schaffer were crew members on the USS Georgia and most have found someway to acquire these photos from someone onboard one of the ships visiting Symrna. In the views you can see sailors visiting the Castle on the hill (shown in an early card on this page) and to the ruins at Ephesus.

These two cards were both canceled on the USS Missouri. Missouri arrived at Smyrna on the 22nd of January and left the morning of the 25th making cards used with the Missouri cancellation rare. The card at right was used on February 23rd, the second day that the ship arrived in Hampton Roads, probably prepared in route. The second card was later in the year when the ship was in New York for the Hudson Fulton Celebration, September 30th.

Above left: An image of the Berber Turks who were a fierce fighter from North Africa that migrated to other areas of the Ottoman Empire. Above right: "This is one of the big ferry they run from Jersey City to New York the best ferry's I have seen. Both cards were written to Miss Way Hialak of Ohio.