British cabinet wanted to sell her battleships HMS Exmouth and Russell to Turkey in 1910

Duncan-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

A personal telegram dated London, England 23 August 1910 sent Mr. Mathews export representative of the Bethehem Steel Company to C.M. Schwab (1) reported that the British firm Sir Armstrong, Whitworth&Co. tried to secure an appointment of new commission in their favor since the arrangement that our material must be inspected by our government. Asked was to put some pressure on the Turkish government by the US Secretary of State. The good news was that the (Turkish) Naval Commission accepted the tender and that we demanded the lowest price. A source claimed that the British cabinet tried to sell the Exmouth (2) and Russell (3) to Turkey. Both battleships of 14,000 ton, a length of 405 feet, a speed of 18.6-19.3 knots, completed between 1903-1904 and armed with 4-12” guns, 12-6” guns, 12-12pd guns and 8 small guns. The telegram ended with the words “Bring all pressure to bear”. A copy of the telegram was on 25 August delivered by Mr. Archie Johnston of the same firm to Huntington Wilson (4) of the Department of State

Notes

1. Charles Michael Schwab (18 February 1862 Williamsbrug, Pennsylvania, USA-18 September 1939 New York City, New Yortk, USA)), steel magnate and leader of Bethlehem Shipbuilding and Steel Company since 1903.

2. Part of Duncan-class pre-dreadnoughts preceded by London-class succeeded by King Edward VII-class, laid down by Laid Brothers, Birkenhead, England on 10 August 1899, launched on 31 August 1901, completed in May 1903, commissioned on 2 June 1903, decommissioned in April 1919 and sold to be broken up on 15 January 1920.

3. Part of Duncan-class pre-dreadnoughts preceded by London-class succeeded by King Edward VII-class, laid down by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow, England on 11 March 1899, launched on 19 February 1901, completed in February 1903, commissioned on 19 February 1903 and sunk after hitting a mine laid by a German submarine off Malta on 27 April 1916.

4. Francius Mairs Huntington Wilson (15 December 1875 Chicago, Illinois, USA-31 December 1946 New Haven, Connecticut, USA) was US Assistant Secretary of State between 1900-1913.