The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-25
Russia's Act Of War in the North Sea

There seems to be no doubt that on the
night of Oct. 2l-22 Russia's Baltic fleet,
commanded by Admiral RoJEsTvENsKY,
while traversing the North Sea on it's
way to Cherbourg, fired on number OF
English fishing smacks, thereby causing
grave loss Of life and property. Assum-
ing that the aggressor has been correctly
identified, we must recognize that an act
of war. has been committed, which will
be promptly followed either by ample
apology and reparation on the part OF
Russia or by an ultimatum on the part
OF England.
What explanation can be offered for
this extraordinary performance? We
dismiss the suggestion that the unpro-
voked aggression may have been DELHI
erately planned, and that the Russian
Admiral was instructed to seize the first
opportunity of forcing England to take
part in the pending war, in order that
Russia might be relieved from the humlia-
ton Of succumbing to the Japanese. That
end could have been attained many weeks
ago by a refusal to apologize for the
depredations Of the Russian cruisers in
the Red Sea- 1t would be absurd to sac
rifice for that purpose the Baltic feet,
which could not possibly cope with the
overwhelming naval force that might be
quickly arrayed against it in the British
Channel.
England's home fleet, consisting of
eight battleships and five cruisers, is
itself in the North Sea; the Channel fleet,
comprising six battleships and six cruis-
ers, is at or near Portland; while the
cruiser squadron, made up Of seven
armored cruisers, is in an English port,
reftting. These three squadrons, or any
two Of them, if brought together as they
easily might be, would prove far more
than match for the ships at the disposal
of Admiral RoJEsTvENsKY. The size of
Russia's Baltic fleet has not been made
known officially, and the unofficial ac-
counts vary. Besides torpedo destroyers,
golfers and armed merchantmen, there
are, according to one report, eight bat
tleships and eight cruisers; but accord
ing to telegram from Dover, only seven
battleships and four cruisers passed that
port on Sunday. In no event, should war
now break out between Russia and Great
Britain, would the Baltic feet be able to
escape destruction, for even should it
succeed in traversing the British Chan
mel it would be intercepted by England's
Mediterranean feet, which comprehends
twelve battleships and fourteen cruisers,
besides many supplementary vessels.
We assume, then, that the firing on
L. E,1lieh Gohinnv aol,e
take on the part of the Russian naval
commander. He may, possibly, have
supposed the steam trawlers, which are
used for fishing in the North Sea- to be
Japanese torpedo boats, or submergi-
bles; but in view of their proximity it
in obvious that no experienced navigator
could have made such blunder. Or
he may have resented the inability of the
shippers OF the fishing smaoks to under
stand and answer his signals. Such in
ability would have been taken for granted
by an experienced navigator, because
the vessels fired upon were showing the
lights which, by international agreement,
fishing craft should exhibit. In word,
we can only acquit Admiral RoJEsT-
vENsKy OF deliberate and glaring
breach OF international law by imputing
to him a degree Of nervousness, pre-
cipitancy and ignorance that disqualify
him for continuance in command.
II follows that no apology and no COM
pensation are likely to be accepted as
adequate unless they are accompanied
by the immediate recall Of Admiral
RoJRsTvENsKY and by the summary
subsection Of that officer to trial by
court-martial. The maritime Powers
cannot permit the Baltic feet to 60 cruis-
ing about the world for the next nine or
ten weeks under an officer 30 grossly
unfit TO perform his professional duties.
Either a competent commander should
be appointed or measures should be
taken to prevent the Baltic feet from
proceeding any further on a voyage con-
ceived in folly and prosecuted in reck-