New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-10-26

RUSSIAN WARSHIPS FIRE ON
ENGLISH FISHING VESSELS
IN THE NORTH SEA.
One Trawler Is Sunk and Shot Be-
heads Skipper and Mate-others
Are Damaged-No Motive Known
for Outrage.

Are Damaged-No Motive known
for Outrage.
Hull, Eng, Oct. PA M. Jackson
& Co., solicitors for the owners of SO
| Hull fishing boats, have notified the for
eign Office and admiralty of an attack
on the Hull fishing fleet by the Russian
Pacific fleet Commonly designated as
the Baltic squadron). The official in
formation is that shortly after midnight
Friday the Russian squadron fell in
with the Hull fishing fleet in the North
sea. The first portion of the fishing
fleet turned their search-lights on the
British vessels for some time and a lit
tie later opened fire. The steam trawler
| Crane was sunk, and the decapitated
| bodies of her skipper and mate have
| been brought to Hull. The steam traw-
| lers Molmein and Mino have arrived at
Hull seriously damaged by shots, the
latter having 16 holes in her hull. It is
feared that other damage was done to
trawlers and that at least one more was
lost with all hands
Two Beheaded.
The Moulmein arrived with her flag
at half mast Her skipper states that
the trawlers were fishing about 220 miles
east by north of Spurn Head at one
o'clock Saturday morning, the weather
being hazy, when the outlines of several
vessels, apparently Warships sailing In
a line, were dimly seen. Whilst the
otob tbox h.
lights were flashed upon them, in the
glare of which the Moulmein's crew OBJ
served what they took to be torpedo
boats approaching, apparently with the
intention of boarding the Moulmein.
They steamed away, however, and soon
the fishermen were Mortified to find they
were being fired upon. First one and
then another trawler was struck by fly
ing shot. What seemed to be round
shot went through the Moulmein galley.
The Mino, lying near by, also was struck
with many shots, but fortunately the
damage was above her waterline and
none Of her crew was struck.
The bombardment lasted about 20
minutes. When it had ceased the fleet
ocL1lCO SouCu w Oh u, 11lu SOIlC vi CAC u q
1ers sent up rockets. The Moulme1n
steered in the direction of the rockets.
Soon cries were heard, and the Crane
was found sinking with another traWler
taking off some of her crew. Those seri-
ously injured were removed to a mission
ship and the bodies of Smith and Leg
gott were placed aboard the Moulmein
The other men with minor injuries were
put aboard the trawler Sea Gull, which
at late hour had not arrived at Hull
No motive can be assigned for the ex
traordinary procedure Of the Russian
warships.
Eighteen Wounded.
From interviews with members O
trawler crews it appears that the ad
miral of the fishing fleet burned greer
flares to show that they were harmless
| fishermen, but these signals were ig
nord Eighteen injured men are her
| under treatment. One trawler the
Wren, is missing, and it is feared she
has been sunk There is a rumor that
| also chased by the Russians. This re-
port has not yet been confirmed.
Feeling in London.
London. Oct. 24.-The first reports OF
the firing by Russian war vessels upon a
British fishing feet in the North sea
were regarded as almost incredible.
| When, however, cumulative evidence nc
longer left doubt Of the general accuracy
of the reports, establishment became be.
Wilderment as to what possible motive
could have led Russian officers into such
an extraordinary and inexplicable
course Of action, which, unless a salts.
factory explanation is Immediately
forthcoming, could only be regarded as
an act Of war. This is the view taker
editorially by all the morning papers.
While admitting the necessity Of {
suspension of judgment for investiga
ton and explanation, the morning news.
papers are unanimous in demanding
that the government instruct Ambassa:
dor Hardinge to make the strongest rep
reservations to the ST. Petersburg gov
eminent and obtain reparation and apol
ogy and assurances of the Russian Paci
fic fleets good behavior for the future
1t is held that the omission of the Rus
sian feet to stay it's course down tn
channel to offer any explanation make
the case look exceedingly grave, and tn
| only possible solution of the myster
that has been suggested is that, excite
by rumors recently spread of Japan
intentions on the Pacific squadron, in tn
event of it's sailing, the Russian gunner
yielded to panic and supposed that tn
trawlers' rockets were the signals Of a
enemy's fleet.
Astonishment in Washington.
Washington, Oct 24-Astonishmer
that the Russian commander shou1
| have committed such blunder as t
fire on inoffensive fishing vessels as RI
ported in dispatches from Hull prevail
in official circles At the same tim
these officials are prompt to express Ii
opinion that the Russian governme1