With the knowledge that the two vessels were in the Dardane' the Russian Foreign Office advised their Ambassador that, if Turkey began operations directly against Russia, these operations would not disturb the Russian plans, but he would make the Porte understand that any hostile step would imperil the existence of Turkey, without seriously affecting the Russian operations. The text of this telegram was communicated to Paris and London, Notwithstanding this warning, on August 12 the Russian Ambassador was in a position to inform Petrograd that the Goeben and Breslau had been purchased by Turkey in order to replace the Turkish dreadnoughts seized by the British Government. The bassador said he had received an assurance from the Grand Vizier that the German crews would be replaced by Turkish crews, and that the British admiral was at liberty personally to ascertain whether any Germans remained on board these ships.
important telegram despatched by the Russian is ter at Athens on August 19, "TI am informed," he said, "from trustworthy sources that the Ger man Minister of Foreign Affairs in reply to a protest by Greece against the purchase by Turkey of the Gorben and Breslau, state the name of the German Govern ment, that the purchase of the ships from Germany was never completed. Both ships remains Ger man ships."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.