Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-24
Nanton Sinking of Defenceless
Fishing Smacks by Baltic
Fleet Brings Protest
RUSSIA TO MAKE APOLOGY
Altho st. Petersburg Government is
Expected to Make Ample Reparation
The Incident Will Undoubtedly Have
Bad Effect on Anglo Russian Diplo.
matte Relations.

London, Oct 24.--The British govern
ment this afternoon sent urgent notes
Of protest to the Russian government
on the subject Of the Russian attack
on the British fishing feet in the North
Sea thru both Ambassador Harding
and the Russian ambassador in Lon
don.
No instructions have been received
at the Russian embassy here, ana no
communications are expected until
Ambassador Harding has made his re-
presentation at ST. Petersburg. me
Russian ambassador here, will not be
in London until nearly midnight, hence
ne can not see Lansdowne until Tues
day, when it is expected Foreign Min
lister Lamsdorff will have transmitted
his instructions. Beyond making apol-
ogies however, it was pointed out at
the Russian embassy, that no explana-
ton could be given until the squadron
was heard from. Steps are on foot to
get communication to Rojestvensky,
but some days may elapse before he
could send report to ST. Petersburg.
The idea that war can arise over the
affair is secuted, but it it admitted it
will strain Anglo Russian relations to
:; hnf
will be severely tested. Fhe mate of
the trawler Mino, which arrived at
Hull with Moulmein, bringing news of
tiae firing OH the fishing boats, said to-
day: Between two and three hundred
shots were fired. The first vessel in
line did most of the firing. But think
two others also fired several shots
Our whole fleet was under searchlights
which nearly blinded US, and the Rus
slams came within less than a quarter
Of mile from us. We could see them
plainly" Captain Peater OF the traw-
Ter Magpie declared it was impossible
for the Russians to mistake the traw-
lers for torpedo boats. and added: "The
whole affair lasted about twenty min
utes. Not quarter Of their shots
could take taken effect. When the fir
Ing ceased the ships disappeared as
quickly as they came UP"
Special stress is paid on the callous-
ness displayed by the Russians in not
going to the assistance of the fisher
men. Lansdowne asks that inlmed-
late redress shall be made. It is be-
iieved in government circles Russia
will take the earliest possible oppor-
tunity to give satisfaction as 1t appears
the Russian officials had reason to be-
lieve there were mines or ships with
mines in the neighborhood where the
fishing fleet was attacked. An inter-
view between Lord Lansdowne and
Count Benckendorff has been arranged
for tomorrow. In the absence of
Benckendorff the Russian charge d.
affairs called at the foreign office this
afternoon to express deep regret at the
Occurrance.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 24.-No official
information from Vice Admiral Rojes-
tvenslSy, commander of the Second Pa
ciffc squadron, or from other Russian
sources, had reached the authorities
UP to 2 p. m. in regard to the firing
by the squadron upon the British
fishing boats early Saturday in the
North sea. The authorities are dumb,
founded by the press reports of the
affair and cannot credit the accounts
as presented for this reason. The CEN
sor today declined to allow publication
of the foreign accounts of the affair
In the highest quarters, where re-
ports were circulated, the gravity of
the affair is fully realized and the in
cident greatly deplored. That Russia
will offer apologies and reparation and
make honorable amends admits of no
doubt, burt with the inf1amed state of
public opinion in Great Britain and
coming on the heels of the sinking by
vladivostok squadron of the British
steamer Knight Commander and the
Red Sea incidents it is recognized the
situation may become acute, unless
cool heads among the British states
men proceed calmly. Unfortunately in
meeting such situation the Russian
governmental machinery is so cumber-
some as to render the prompt action
which such situations seems to de-
mand almost Impossible. Everything
viii depend on the character OF the
British demands. Here it is consider
ed, the principal danger of possible
punishment of Vice Admiral Rejsst-