The San Francisco call., 1904-10-28
RUSSIAN ADMIRAL TELLS OF
TORPEDO ATTACK.
Report Compicates the Situation
His Story Agrees in important
Details With That of Fishermen

ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. %, $40 a.
m.-The mystery of the trawler affair,
instead of being cleared by Vice Ad-
miral Rojestvensky's report, to-day
appears to be deeper than ever. The
Russian admirals explanation is hail
ed with the greatest satisfaction at the
Admiralty and elsewhere, but it is felt
that direct issue has now been raised
between Great Britain and Russia and
the crisis has entered upon a more
delicate stage. Public sentiment in
both countries doubtless will demand
the most searching investigation to
establish facts and probably neither
nation will be willing to accept the re-
suit of an ex-parte inquiry by the
other. The outcome probably will be
mixed tribunal of some sort This at
least is the suggestion of some of the
cooler men here. as it is felt that only
thus could repetition of the Maine
incident be avoided
Popular excitement has reached a
pitch uneQualed since the beginning OF
the war. Public sympathy and con-
fidence undoubtedly are with Admiral
Rojestvensky and should Russia
choose to stand upon his version with
out further inquiry there is no ques-
ton that such a course would be popu-
lar with the masses, who would be
willing to back the Government in the
controversy to the utmost extremity.
1t is most unlikely, however, that the
Government will adopt such a course.
1t is much more probable that. after
the first flush of excitement has faded,
a middle way will be found whereby
the facts can be tablished and the
national pride of both countries main
tained.
ADMIRAL'S EXPLANATION.
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's ex-
planation of the trawler incident is
fully as sensational as the news of
the firing upon the fishing fleet.
which set all England a1ame. He
declares he was attacked in the
darkness by two torpedo-boats,
which came up on the squadron from
the direction of the fishing fleet. He
opened fire and believes he sank one
of the torpedo boats, the other making
off for cover among the fishermen. As
soon as he noticed the fishermen Ad-
miral Rojestvensky ceased firing. He
proceeded on his way without leaving
any vessel behind and says he believes
the vessel which the fishermen reported
remained on the scene for six hours
without offering succor to the drowning
was the other torpedo-boa either wait
Ing for her cCnsort or repairing dam
age inflicted by the fire of his ships.
1t is stated that torpedo boats at
tackled the leading Russian ship. They
disregarded the signals to keep off
when picked up by the searchlights and
fire was opened on them.
Rojestvensky refers to and replies
specifically to the reports in the British
press, showing that he had the press
accounts before him when he wrote his
report. Some of his language is sar-
castle, especially when speaking of the
appearance of the torpedo-boats from
the direction of the British fishermen,
conveying an intimation which certain
ly will arouse resentment in England.
He declares that no other naval COM
mander at sea under similar circum-
stances would have failed to open fire
and adds that he courts the fullest in
quiry and suggests that a court of in
quiry could be held at Vigo.
TALLIES WITH FIRST STORY.
1t is pointed out that the original
version of the incident, as recited by
the captain of the trawler Moulmein,
coincides closely with Rojestvensky's
The captain said that while the squad
ron was passing he suddenly noticed
two torpedo-boats, which approached
so near that he thought that they in
tended bombarding him, when they
sheered off, heading back for the
squadron. Almost Immediately after
ward the squadron opened fire.
More important than any other fea-
ture of the admirals report is his
statement that there were no torpedo
boats with the Russian fleet. This, in
view of the fact that the captain of the
Moulmein reported that two torpedo
boats first approached the fishing fleet
and then steered for the Russian war
ships, which Immediately opened fire,
would make Rojestvensky's version
appear not only probable. but entirely
corroborated by the fishermen them
selves. The statement that no torpedo
boats were with the section of the fleet
accompanying Rojestvensky's flagship
is fully confirmed here.
In concluding his telegram Admiral