The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-28
st. Petersburg Silent.

Ss o0OtS 0suSbbes
Thus far no official word has been.
received from st. Petersburg as to
the attitude of the Russian govern
ment. The fact that it had been de-
cided during the day to prepare a
semi-ificial note expressing the regret
of the Russian government, and it's
willingness to make full r%eparation as
soon as the responsibility is fixed, was
communicated by the Associated
Press to Lord Lansdowne, and was
the first information on the subject he
had received from st. Petersburg. The
absence during the day OF Count
Benckendorff, the Russian ambassa-
dor, necessarily caused some delay,
but the Russian charge d~'affaires, who
called al the foreign office on request
by note from Lord Lansdowne, unof-
f1cially expressed deep regret and, as
far as it was possible for him to go,
gave assurance of speedy action by
the Russian government. Lord Lans-
downe, in this interview, told M. Sans
anoff, the charge, that he desired to
see Ambassador Benckendorn Tues
day morning. Lord Lansdowne asked
M. S%ansonoff if he could offer any
explanation OF the affair, and the lat.
ter replied that he only knew what
had appeared in the papers, and that
he had not received any word up to
that time from st. Petersburg. Lord
Lansdowne gave no suggestion as to
what might be done in the matter.
"Just a Little Mistake"
At the Russian embassy it was
stated "the whole affair was so obvi-
ously a mistake, from whatever cause,
that Russia's cours was plainly die
tated, namely, apology and ample
compensation"
AL eyes are now turned toward st.
Petersburg, awaiting word from the
Russian government.
A Gigantic Blunder.
Earl Onslow, president OF the board
of agriculture. speaking in Stirling
shire tonight, said it would be well il
explanations were not sought for
this Extraordinary incident" until
the country had some authentic in
formation. The whole AFFAIR, he said,
seemed SO unaccountable that one
could not help telling sure that there
would be an explanation of what must
have been a gigantic blunder. Earl
Onslow added that the country might
rely upon n thing, namely, that the
emperor OF Russia, who is known
throughout the world for his feelings
of humanity, could not fail to be de-
pressed by such an incident"
The actual casualties during the
one-sided Dombardment Of Dogger
bank can be correctly stated since
the arrival at London this evening OF
the carrying ship Swift, reporting the
safety Of the missing trawlers. The
Swift left the fleet at 10 a m. on Oct.
%. Her captain says:
1.-The Russians gave not the slight
est warning prior to the commence
ment of the firing. The admiral OF the
fishing fleet sent up a rocket of warn
ing and then the firing commenced.
He again sent up four green rockets,
but this only seemed to increase the
ferocity of the bombardment. The
poor craftsmanship of the Russian
gunners was the only thing that saved
the entire fleet within range OF the
searchlights and guns"
At the inquest at Hull today it was
stated that one vessel, the Crane, was
sunk, and that tour CT five were mor
or less damaged. In the statement OF
the coroner to the jury that official
said that it was a question of grave
International Importance, but it would 4
be their duty to find who were tn
murderers OF the dead men. Aftpr
the Identification of the bodies q
ircls& E0GEd Z -yemz {