Richmond planet., 1904-10-29
RUSSIA AWAITING
ADMIRAL'S REPORT
Great Britain Won't Make Demands
Until Explanation is Made.
GAR PROMISES PREPARATION

II Is Believed When Demands Are
Made They Must be Promptly Com
piled With or Rupture Will Follow.
British Fleet Ready.
ST. Petersburg, Oct 26.-Vice Ad-
miral RojeStvensky' reasons for fir
ing into the British fishing fleet re
main as great a mystery as ever.
Again the admiralty announced that
the admirars report of the affair had
not been received. Meantime, with
out waiting the Russian version of the
affair Emperor Nicholas through Am
bassador Hardinge, has sent to King
Edward and the British government
a message conveying an expression of
the profoundest regret for the unfort-
unate affair. coupled with assurances
that the families of the victims should
receive the fullest reparation. The
British government also shows moder-
alton in the note which Sir Charles
Hardinge presented to Foreign Minis
ter Lamsdorff. While it awaits ex-
PLANTATION for an act which is charac-
terizes in strong language as unjust
liable, deliberate and inhuman, il
makes no threats, f,>,- - time limit
for respII no de-
mcnde tr- 1850, esc.'nr.
that Great Britains demands are re-
served panding receipt of an explana-
ton.
The willingness Of Great Britain to
await the Russian explanation before
formulating demands shows consider
alton for the position in which Russia
had been placed by n deplorable blum
der. At the same time this consider
alton has an ominous ring about it,
only serving to emphasize the gravity
OF the situation, the language Of the
note admitting of no doubt that when
the demands are ultimately presented
Great Britain intends to insist upon
full compliance with them. From the
diplomatic standpoint the very fact
that Great Britain has not shown her
hand strengthens her position. What
the nature of the demands will be must
necessarily be a matter OF speculation
until Admiral RojestvenslSy's report
arrives, but if the important allegation
in the note is established, namely,
that the squadron actually changed
formation before opening fire, it would
seem to fix the responsibility upon
Roiestvenslly; and whoever the author
of the offense may be, it is regarded
as certain that Great Britain will de-
mand, among other things, his punish
ment 1t is also considered certain that
failure 70 promptly comply with the
demands will be Immediately followed
by Ambassador Hardinge's recall.
Although some nervousness is per-
ceptible in diplomatic circles, gener-
ally speaking there is the greatest
confidence, both among diplomats and
high officials of the government that
the affair will be amicably adjusted.
tour of the embassies and lega-
tions showed that the sentiment was
almost unanimous that Russia would
make every reparation, and that the
incident would be adjusted, unless
Great Britain's demands should be un-
reasonable, which it was thought they
would not be. Nevertheless, the great
est activity was manifested at all the
legations. Cipher dispatches were COM
ing and going and the foreign Office
was besieged by under secretaries and
ministers, all eager for information
The scenes gave forcible reminder of
those Immediately preceding the sew
erance of diplomatic relations with
Japan. At the admiralty there were
similar scenes of activity. The corri-
doris were full of newspaper cores
pondents and naval attaches awaiting
information regarding Rojestvensky's
report, but the admiralty had nothing
TO offer in explanation of the extra
| ordinary silence. 1t is felt that this
delay is one OF the most serious fea-
lures OF the situation. While the
British note fixes no time limit for
| Russia's reply. it is argued that the
protracted delay of the admiral's re-
port will do more than anything else
to inflame British public opinion and
render final adjustment difficult