Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1929, Page 103

TI;IEhVS[?Z\'rI?AYWS'IV'AR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 15, 1929. The Government’s “Quarterdeck Diplomatist” Returns to Washington. Rear Admiral Bristol, After Ten Years of Exciting Service in Foreign Waters, Now Is a Member of the General Board of the Navy Department—He IWas High Commissioner of the United States in Turkey. BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT, ACK in Washington after 10 years of nearly continuous and exciting service " in foreéign waters, Rear Admiral Mark Lambert Bristel, U. S. N,, is discharg- ing his new duties as a member of the general board of the Navy Department with the prospact that he will remain here until his re- tirement in April, 1932, That is, he probably will remain uniess the United States Government should find occasion again to draft him for naval or diplomatic mis- sions of unusual character, for Admiral Bristol has proved himsclf exceptionally capable in either role. During eight years in Turkish and Eastern Mediterraneon waters, from 1919 to 1927, he was both diplomatist and naval com- mander, while in China, from 1927 until this Autumn, he was primarily a naval officer, though his record as a diplomatist was consid- ered to have been partly responsible for his as- signment to the Asiatic fleet. Although going through two wars with high cradit—the Spanish-American and World Wars —it is likely that Admiral Bristol's work as _$ligh Commissioner of the United States to Tur- key will be singled out as the most picturesque and possibly the most important phase cf his career. He is credited with having been the first among the representatives of the big powers in the Mediterranean to perceive the vitality of the Nationalist movement in Turkey, under Kemal Pasha, and to have guided American relations with the ex-enemy country (Turkey having been allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary) with great skill into the present harmonious state. THE treaty of Lausanne, negotiated with Tur- - key, was followed up in 1927 by the naming of Ambassador JosepheC. Grew to carry on the work of Admiral Bristol, but the treaty has not been ratified by the United States Senate owing to objections of certain Senatcrs to the position of the Armenians since the Turkish dictatar- ship began, but for all practical purposes the United States and Turkey have full diplomatic and commercial relations, with a Turkish Am- bassador in Washington. Admiral Bristol was ordered to Constanti- nople in January, 1919, while the peace con=- ference was in session in Paris. The British, French and other allies had warships, troops and high officers in Turkey and its waters and the problem was to safeguard Americans and other foreigners during a period when Turkey, with the old regime collapsed, was in a state of civil war and chaotic generally. At that time his title was senior naval officer present, but in 1920 his title was changed to ccmmander United States Naval Detachment in Turkish Waters and, later, High Commis- sioner. In 1921 he was given the rank of rear admiral. During the World War, in 1918, he had ranked as rear admiral, temporary. In ad- dition to cruisers he had under his command at times up to 20 destroyers in the various crises involving Turkey, especially in that country's war with Greece. When the Greeks were defeated in 1922 and the city of Smyrna was burned, with terribls suffering for thousands of refugees, the Ameri- can destroyers under command of Admiral Bristol did rescue work that attracted world- wide attention. The refugees were transported to Greece and given food and medical care en route. Hundreds alive and happy today owe all to this. relief work. Under Kemal the Turkish Nationalists won complete mastery of the country and began drastic revision of the rights of foreigners. China today is seeking to end the special privi- leges foreigners enjoy there, just as Turkey, during Admiral Bristol’s stay, put into effect a new regime in which foreigners had to submit to the same laws and courts imposed cn natives. Early in his contact with the leaders of the Turkish Nationalist movement, Admiral Bristol won their confidence. Negotiations for a modus vivendi, or temporary agreement under which American trade with Turkey could be rehabili- tated fcllowing the disruption of the World War and civil war, were carried forward suc- cessfully by Admiral Bristol. HEN his task was finished in the spring of 1927, with the formal recognition of Turkey in the exchange of ambassadors, Admiral Bris- tol was called to Washington for special duty under the Secretary of State. In June, 1927, he was designated commander-in-chief of the Asiatic fleet, with the rank of admiral, and was commissioned with that rank as of September, 1927. China then was in the throes of a National- ist movement somewhat similar to the move- ment Admiral Bristol had seen develop and win control in Turkey; hence, he was deemed spe- cially qualified to command the numerous American naval vessels in Chinese waters. The 'hhuomum did become the dominant force im China, but about the time Admiral Bristol was leaving China to report to Washington at the beginning of this Autumn, civil war again flared in China, while the break with Soviet Russia over the Manchurian Railroad added to the crisis. The fleet now is commanded by Admiral Charles McVay. Permission was given to Admiral Bristol by the Soviet government for him to return to the United States by way of the Siberian Railroad. He spent several days in Leningrad as well as in Moscow cn his way to Europe and was quoted in dispatches from Moscow as having found the general situation in Russia “much better” than he expected. After his arrival in the United States, Admiral Bristol visited the West before reporting for duty at the Navy Department on December 2. The ‘Department of State, having used Ad- miral Bristol in the past, considers him a valu- able adviser on many subjects in fcreign af- fairs, while as a member of the general board of the Navy he also brings to his work more than technical expertness in purely naval af- fairs. The general board was created as an ad- visory body to the Secretary of the Navy on any question he may submit to the bcard for its opinion. In the usual course of promotions Ad- miral Bristol will become chairman of the executive committee of the board next Spring. In connecticn with his trip through Soviet Russia it is recalled that Admiral Bristol's decorations include one from Russia, the Order of St. Anna of the First Class, bestowed, how- ever, before the present Communist regime came into being following the abdication cf the Czar in 1917. Admiral Bristol received the Distinguished Service Medal for service during the World War, with the following citatjion: “For exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in ccmmand of the U. S. S. Oklahoma, operating in the war zone in association and co-cperation with British naval forces.” IS record shows that he was born in Glas- boro, N. J., April 17, 1868. His appointment to the Naval Academy was in May, 1883, and he was graduated in June, 1887. A period in the Coast Survey followed in 1889 by his being made an ensign and in 1897 lieutenant, junior grade, with full lieutenancy in 1899. Service on various battleships with the Atlantic fleet, at the Naval War College, at the Navy Depart- ment, as aide to Rear Admiral R. D. Evans and Rear Admiral Bristol. in other details filled in the years until 1905, when he was made lieutenant commander. He attained the rank of commander in 1909, served in European and Asiatic waters and be- came captain in 1913. From that year until 1916 he was on special duty at the Navy De- partment, going from there to command the aic force at Pensacola, Fla., and subsequently to the Naval War Ccllege at Newport, R. I. He com- manded the battleship North Carolina in 1917, was named rear admiral, temporary, in 1918, and assigned to duty in command of the naval hase at Plymouth, England, in the co-operation of the United States during the World War with the British. He had other World War service of a varied nature. The 10 years since 1919 already have been outlined. Admiral Bristol was in extremely perilous situations many times throughout his career to date. He always has liked Washington, main- taining a home here and leasing it when sent to other posts. With Mrs. Bristol he is established again at 1621 Massachusetts avenue, where many friends find charming hospitality. American sailors rescuing refugees during the destruction of Smyrna. The homeless were taken aboard United States navel vessels under the command of Rear Admiral Bristol, 4 —ba