The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-25

day sent a long ana urgent note TO the
Russian government officially detail
ing the circumstances of the amazing
and unexplained attack by the Rus
sian second Pacific squadron during
the night of Oct. 21 on British fishing
boats in the North sea.
The text of the note has not been
given out. but it is officially stated
from the Foreign Office that it con-
tains the significant announcement
that the Situation is one which, in
the opinion of his majesty's govern
ment, does not admit of delay"
Meanwhile the conservative public
and press are remarkably undemon-
strative. AS usual the jingo element
demands war, and even in official
quarters some go so far as to say that
it may be necessary to stop the Pa
cific fleet, pending settlement of the
whole affair, though this extreme
measure, it is believed. will not pre-
vail.
Everywhere there is evidence of very
positive opinion that this is no time
for the usual diplomatic dilly-dally-
ing; that there must be no delay and
no limit set by Russia to her apol-
ogy or the extent of compensation for
sufferers by what King Edward him
self terms "the unwarrantable action
of the Russian commanders.
UnwarrantabIe, Says Edward.
Foreign Secretary Lansdowne reach
7 ofN
gathering the latest details known at
the foreign office regarding the firing
on the British fishing boats by the
Russian squadron proceeded to Buck
ingham palace, where he had lengthy
interview with King Edward. The lat
ter later telegraphed a message of
sympathy to the mayor of Hull, the
text of which is as follows:
buckingham Palace, Oct. "a, 1904.
ITO His Worship. the Mayor of Hull:
The King commands me to say that
he has heard with profound sorrow
of the unwarrantable action which has
been committed against the North Sea
fishing fleet, and asks you to express
the deepest sympathy of the Queen and
his majesty with the families of those
who have suffered from this most
lamentable occurrence.
(Signed). "Knollys."
Resentment Is Deep.
The deep resentment of the whole
British public, however, is reflected by
the incident at the Victoria station to-
night, on the arrival of Count Benken-
dorff from the continent. There is no
attempt anywhere among men of re-
sponsibility to magnify the occurrence
into a deliberate act of war: but in
view of the present inability to find an
explanation, there is being poured upon
the heads of the officers of the squad
ron a flood of invective and insinua-
tion, though incompetence first and
thereafter complete panic is the most
generally accepted explanation.
Thus far no word has been received
from st. Petersburg as to the attitude
Of the Russian government. The fact
that it had been decided during the
day to prepare semi -official note ex-
pressing the regret of the Russian gov
eminent and its willingness to make
fun reparation so soon as the RESPONSE
bility is fixed was communicated by
the Associated Press to Lord Lans-
downe. and was the first information
on the subject he had received from
st. Petersburg. The absence during
The day Of Count Benkendorff, the Rus
sian ambassador, caused some difficult
~, but the Russian charge d'affaires,
who called at the Foreign Office on
request by note from Lord Lansdowne,
unofiicially expressed deep regret, and
gave, as far as It was possible for him
to give, assurances Of speedy action
Dy the Russian government
Lord Lansdowne in this interview
told M. sansonoff. the charge. that he
desired to see Ambassador Benken-
dorff Tuesday morning. Lord Lans-
downe asked NJ. Sansonoff IL he could
offer any explanation Of the affair. and
the latter replied that he only knew
what had appeared In the papers, and
That he had not received any word up
70 that time from st. Petersburg.
Lord Lansdowne gave no suggestion
as to what might be done IN the mat
ter.
Obviously n Mistake.
At tho Russian embassy II was