Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-27
DEEP d t: REGRET REC; RI:
Russia Greatly DepIores
North Sea Incident.
Reply to Britain's Note Has
Reached London. %
St. Petersburg Still Awaits Report o.
Rojestvensky.

London. Oct. Ellis p. m.AThe
| Russian reply to Great Britain's note
| on the subject of the North sea tragedy
| has been received by the British gov.
ornament. t'-ai Y .
1t expresses deep regret at the OCCUR
renee and promises full PREPARATION 80
soon as an official reyort Is received
from Vice Admiral Rojestvensky.
The reply was received by Ambassa-
dor Rankendorff during the night and
WIS forwarded to Foreign Secretary
Lansdowne in the shape Of formal
letter in which the ambassador writ
ing on cabled Instructions from 81.
Petersburg. gave the above assurances.
adding that while the Russian govern.
ment ut The time Of cabling was stitl
without Of fetal knowledge from its own
sources Of the occurrence in the North
sea it feels so certain that It was all
error that it wishes AZ once to express
its regret and assures the British gov
eminent that full compensation will n
made 10 soon as the details are re-
c.ived. A reply in identical language II
expected to be handed to Ambassador
Hardinge at st. Petersburg, WedneS
day.
Ambassador Benkendorff himself
drove to Lansdowne House bef re no N,
had half an hours conference with
Foreign Secretary Lansdowne and sub
sequently proceeded to Downing street
and saw Premier Balfour. During the
conference Lord Selborne, first lord uf
the admiralty called in Captain Prince
Louis of Battenberg. the director OF
naval intelligence. Attorney General
Finlay was also present The premier,
Prince Louis and Lord Selborne arc I'll
members of the defence committee. The
conference lasted about an hour.
Captain Calthorpe, the British naval
attache. was at the admiralty again to-
day. in full uniform. In quest Of infor-
nation as to when the report could be
expected.
1t is evident from the vigor with
which the British embassy is pressing
it's Inquiries that 1t is not the intention
of the British government to await IN
definitely.
However the admiralty's statement
conveyed to Ambassador Hardinge to-
day is regarded as rea surfing, and al
together the situation is considered to
have entered on 4 distinctly better
phase.
If, upon the receipt Of Admiral Ro.
jestvcnsky's report. the Russian gov
eminent in communicating its explana-
ton voluntarily announces that a
searching inquiry will be made and
that the offenders will he punished II
is not thought Great Britain can rea-
sonably demand more inasnuch as
Emperor Nicholas himself has already
e., 81
affair and has given assurances that
the victims will receive the fullest conf
pensation. ------,.
The Admiralty has dispatched swift
ship from Vigo to ascertain whether
any British fishermen are off the Span
ish coast and to warn Rojcstvensky.
Apart from the admralty's announce
meru that precautionary orders had been
issued to the fleets. there arc practically
no signs Of anything In the nature of
warlike preparations. thus confirming the
opinion universally held In all wel-in-
formed circles here that the promises
given by Emperor Nichols and the Rns-
sian government will be Loyalty fulfilled
and that the crisis will pass away without
serious consequences --.t
telegram from Portsmouth reported
that orders had been received. this morn
ing, 10 hurry the equipment Of certain
ships of the reserve. but this. It is under.
stood, was comprised In the admirahys
order already announced. and this con-
Iinues To receive high approval from pub
lie bodies and. the newspapers. though
The more iingoistic OF the latter express
Inc hope that II means that the Russian
squadron will not be permitted to go be-
yond Gibraltar. or II II does that th9
squadron will be followed. Vice Admiral
Lord Rero sford's channel squadron lies
conveniently near in the shadow OF the
A telegram from Brest says the trans
port I>inasgortciiakof is still in the outer
roads awaiting the squadron She mas
200 tons of coal and 20 seamcn on board
VIII, are to join ships Of the SQUADRON:
Her commander, this morning. signalled
request a. the Russian vice counsel 10
come on board.
,ounCement from the arrival there OF ELK
British warships. while the rest OF the
British Mediterranean feet 1t on Its way
q PoIa. Austria. -
Orders from the admiralty have been
Continued on page D.