The San Francisco call., 1904-10-27
NORTH SEA
AFFAIR DUE
TO FRIGHT
TraWIerS Mistaken
for Japanese
Warships.
FEAR MARS SIGHT
Baltic Fleet Puts
In at Vigo With
Explanation.
FEAR MARS SIGHT

VIGO, Spain, Oct. 26.-The arrival of
the Russian battleships Emperor Alex
ander III, Borodino,A Orel and Kniaz
Souvaroff and the transport Anatol,
which have anchored in this port, has
caused considerable excitement.
The commander of the port immedi-
ately boarded the Russian flagship and
informed Admiral Rojestvensky that
the Spanish Government could not per-
nit the warships to coal within the
port. Admiral Rojestvensky replied
that his vessels needed repairs and for
that reason he had separated from the
remainder of his squadron. The COM
mander of the port promised to inform
the Spanish Government of the admi-
rails statement and communicate the
Government reply as soon as it was
received
In spite of this, five German golfers
anchored in port alongside the battle
ships, whereupon the commander of
the port sent an aide de camp to beg
Admiral Rojestvensky not to violate
Spanish neutrality, and he also ordered
the commanding officer of the Spanish
cruiser Estremadura to notify the coll
authorities. Eventually Admiral Ro-
Jestvensky promised that he would not
coal in Spanish waters, at the same
time begging permission for each war
ship to take on 400 tons of coal to pro-
ceed to Tangier., Eventually three coll
lierS proceeded to Tangier two remain
ing alongside the warships.
SHIPS CLEARED FOR ACTION.
Later Admiral Rojestvensky. accom-
panied by the commanders of his fleet,
visited the Military Governor, the
French Consul and the commander of
the port, receiving the usual honors.
AS far as can be seen the crews of
the battleships are very uneasy. Senti-
nels are closely watching every move
ment within the harbor All four Of
the warships seem to be cleared for
action
1t. is rumored that the object of the
Spanish Government in requesting the
Russians to remain the shortest possi-
bic time at Vigo is to prevent the pos
sibility of attack by Japanese agents.
whose presence in the province of Ga
licia is suspected
1t is learned that three other Russian
warships have anchored in Arosa Bay.
The Government has refused them per-
mission to coal in Spanish waters.
The Spanish warships MARQUES de la
Victoria and Vasco Nunez de Balbao are
keeping watch along the coast. The au-
thorities have ordered that all fishing
boats shall fly the national flag In order
to avoid a repetition of the Dogger
Bank incident
EXPLANATION OF TRAGEDY.
Prince Keretelli, an officer of the bat
tleship Emperor Alexander III. has
been interviewed and gives the follow
ing explanation of the attack by the
Baltic squadron upon the British trawl-
ers off Dogger Bank:
The TRANSPORT Anatol, which was
steaming ahead of the squadron, was
suddenly surrounded by eight torpedo
boats and requested assistance. where
upon the battleship division advanced
and signaled to the unknown vessels to
leave or disclose their nationality. The
vessels refused to obey and advanced
among the Russian battleships. Sud-
denly a cannon shot was heard from
an unknown vessel. Then the admiral
formed in battle line and replied to the
fire, afterward continuing his voyage"
Prince Keretelli added that the Rus
slams feared the strange torpedo-boats
were Japanese, as the admiral was
aware that the japanese had purchased
such boats in England.
{. The weather on the night in question
was rather hazy. The Russians saw
no fishermen and were not aware that
any damage had been DONE Evidently
the fishermen had shown no lights.