The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-26
RUSSIA'S WEAKNESS PLAIN.
DRUNKENNESS or THE OFFICERS
rs NOTORIOUS.

This the European Explanation OF tho
Baltic Fleets Attack on the British
Trawiers In the North Sea--Britain's
People Angry, but Calm In Crisis.
.spsrfa, Cabir Despatch 10 The SUE.
LONDON. Oct. PA very noticeable
feature Of the English peoples reception
of the news of the Russian outrage in the
North Sea is its calmness, At the same
time, it is impossible not to recognize that
the deepest anger Is burning beneath this
calmness, and also stern resolve to exact
the utmost proper reparation.
But there has been praiseworthy readi-
ness to disoredit the idea that the Russian
fleet deliberately and Willingly commenced
its bombardment of the peaceful trawlers,
knowing them to be such. There is also
confidence that st. Petersburg, once in
formed Of the full details. will not hesitate
to make full reparation. Should this not
be forthcoming crisis will arise, the gravity
of which will be so obvious that 1t IL i'm
possible to exaggerate it.
To-day, wien the stunning effect Of the.
first news Of the actual outrage had passed,
there was one feeling conspicuously stand
ing out in the public mind. This was the
demand that the responsible officers Of the
Baltic fleet must be punished. When this
is done the Gar will only effect In a small
portion of his forces what the merest obliga-
done throughout the Russian army and
navy, which are two sources OF shame
to Russia.
The shameless untrustworthiness OF
Russia's diplomacy and the utter corrup-
ton pervading her entire public service
have been clearly and impartially pointed
out from time to time In THE SUN. There
is yet a third disgrace which hitherto
has not been so definitely indicated. namely.
the conduct OF and character OF Russian OIL
GERS, military and naval. The press Of
every capital of Europe has more than
limited that drunkenness was largely the
contributing cause OF Russia's latest SELF
humiliation in the North Sea. The time
has now come when the drunken dissolute-
ness and brutality of large proportion Of
the Russian officers should be held up to the
apprehension of the civilized world. 1ts
results have become a matter Of internal
tional concern.
No one denies the highest honor to such
men as the brave Gen. Stoessel, the com
mander of Port Arthur, one OF the few
Russian officers who gained the respect OF
officers OF other nationalities during the
Pekin expedition, but Stoesseis, Kuropat
kins and Kellers are sadly few in the Rus
sian services both Of which are disgraced
by the presence OF too many officers OF
the type OF the Grand Duke Boris, who
even at the front surrounded himself with
an ent outrage OF painted women and drunk
en- boon companions.
Such were the men who on tho Pekin
expedition rode Keeling in their saddles.
with an orderly on either side to support
them when necessary. Such were the
men who ordered Chinese prisoners to be
shot in order to avoid the trouble Of trans
porting them. These are the men who
have been seen in sheer excess OF drunken
brutality to strike uno1ending privates
standing at salute with message. These
are the men responsible for the nameless
horrors Of Blagovestschenk. These are the
men who were drinking in resorts Of shame
during the fighting at Maoyang. These
are the men whom responsible Russian
correspondents in Russian papers have
described as drinking champagne and ex-
changing obscene jests with abandoned
women within earshot of wounded and
dying fellow countrymen. These are the
men, who, shameless with drink, have
prosecuted sisters of mercy accompanying
the army with their loathsome atten-
tons.
These are the men whose drnk-r,hned
nerves suocumbed to panic when the Hull
fishing fleet was sighted. These are the
men whose competence Is such that q half
hours heavy firing by their feet at close
range enabled them to sink one fishing
boat and to kill two and wound thirty
fishermen out Of a large feet Of unressting
trawlers busily engaged In their peaceful
trade, whose humanity is such that when
the mistake was discovered they sailed of
into the night without offering the slightest
assistance to their victims.
Surely 1t can only be the duty Of the Car
to purge his service of such officers as
these who at the present moment make
Russia's only feet a disgrace to it's country
and danger to every vessel adoat save,
perhaps, its legitimate foes.
| CHARS MESSAGE FOR PEACE.
Washington Somewhat Treasured BY tho
Days Developments.