Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-28
CAR EXPRESSES
PROFOUND REGRET
COMPLETE PREPARATION TO BE
MADE FOR ATTACK ON BRIT
ISL FISHING FLEET.
ASSURANCES SENT
THROUGH AMBASSADOR

Latter Presents Note to Russian For
eign Office No Direct Demands
Made Pending Receipt of Explain
alton of North Sea Incident.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 26.-Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff, upon his return
from visiting Emperor Nicholas at
Tsarskoe Selo Tuesday afternoon,
drove direct to the British embassy,
where he conveyed to Ambassador
Hardinge, on behalf of the emperor. a
message for communication to King
Edward and the British government,
expressing the emperors profound re-
gret at the news of the North sea in
ctdent and stating that the emperor
had not yet received a report from his
officers on the subject, but asking the
British ambassador, nevertheless, to
convey the assurance that fullest
reparation would be made to the fam
lilies of the sufferers. Later the am
bassador went to the foreign Office and
formally presented copy of his in
structions.
The British Note.
The note was couched in a moderate
but firm tone. The note stigmatizes
the act as inhuman, unjustifiable and
deliberate, but makes no direct de-
mands, reserving them pending the re-
ceipt of Russia's explanation. Neither
does it place a time limit upon the re-
Spouse.
The note recites the circumstances
of the affair, saying that a fleet of
steam trawlers carrying the estab-
lished lights was approached by the
Russian squadron, which threw search
lights upon the vessels and then de-
liberately altered it's formation. One
vessel was sunk, two fishermen were
killed, many were wounded and sew
eral vessels were missing, after bonn
bardment of the fishing vessels which
lasted for considerable time. The
squadron then sailed off, leaving a
vessel of small tonnage, which re.
manned on the spot for six hours.
The note points out that the indig.
nation of the British people, height
ened by the inhuman conduct of the
commanders of the warships in aban.
doning the sinking, crippled trawlers,
was further emphasized by the failure
of the smaller warship to offer or rem.
der any assistance, although It was
impossible for it during all that time
to have mistaken the true character
of the fishing vessels.
The note concludes with the state.
ment that the British government i,
awaiting Russia's explanation of this
unjustifiable act, pending the receipt
of which it reserves it's demands.
Explanation Not Yet Received.
London, Oct. 26-In the absence OF
Admiral Rojestvensky's report no Off
cial explanation of the action of the Rus
sian Pacific squadron in firing on the
Hull fishing fleet Is yet made public.
That King Edward correctly interpret
ed the feeling of the nation In publicly
stigmatizing the affair as "unwarrapt-
ed" was evidenced by the reception
given him Tuesday morning when he
started for the race meeting at New
Market. A big crowd awaited the king
both at Buckingham palace and at the
railroad station, and the heartiness OF
the cheering and the vigorous waving
of hats and handkerchiefs, with occa-
sional shouts of good old Tedd," from
the ultra enthusiasts made up remark
able demonstration and afforded the king
evident pleasure.
In view of the popular demonstration
Monday night against the Russian am
bassador special precautions were adopt
ed by the police to guard him against
any unpleasantness, but they proved un-
necessary.
Queen Alexandra has sent letter to
the mayor of Hull, inclosing donation
of $500 for distribution among the dis
abled men and the widows and orphans
of the killed, expressing sympathy and
asking to be informed as to the prog
Tess of the injured.
The admiralty is understood to be taxi
ing measures for the protection of the
British trawlers In the Bay of Biscay.
Besides notifying ST. Petersburg of the
presence Of trawlers there 1t Is thought
probable that warship may be dis
patched from Gibraltar to watch over
the fishermen.
Hostile Demonstration.
London, Oct. 26. - Count Benken-
dorff, the Russian ambassador, re-
turned to London Monday night from
celebrating his silver wedding with
his wife's relatives In Silesia, and
barely escaped assault from q crowd
at the Victoria station, which followed
him almost into the embassy. Fortu-
nately for the issue Of peace or war,
nothing resulted, yet, throughout the
night a special force of police was
compelled to guard the Russian en-
bassy. Count Benkendorff has been
always regarded in official circles here
as Friend Of peace, and he was as
much opposed as was Count Lamsdorff
to the Russo-Japanese war. Indeed,
he is almost an Anglophile in senti-
ment.
Feels Incident Keen1y.
There is no doubt that Count Ben
kendorff was deeply hurt by the DEM
onstration. After escaping from the
hostile crowd that met him at the
station, he drove at a gallop to the
embassy. Half dozen rowdies fol-
lowed, but the ambassador arrived un-
harmed. His noisy pursuers encoun-
tered a Gordon of police that had been
hurriediy dispatched to guard the em-
bassy. After singing Rule Britannia
the disturbers dispersed, no arrests
being made, but the police continued
to guard the embassy as If it were a
British fortress. With such vigilance
did they carry out their task that