Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-25
EXPLANATION DEFERRED.
Russian Admiralty Awaiting Report
From Roiestvensky

From Rojestvensky.
ST. PETERSBURG, October %, 35 p.
m.-Ambassador Hardnge during the
night received instructions from his gov
ernment on the subject of the North Sea
incident and will present them during the
day, probably after Foreign Minister
Lamsdorff sees the emperor this after
noon.
Captain Calthorpe, the British naval
attache, in full uniform, accompanied by
the embassy chasseur, wearing his full
uniform, with hunting knife and plumed
hat, with the British colors, drove in state
today to the admiralty, where the attache
formally notified the minister of marine
that there were other British fishing fleets
on the Spanish coast, This formal warn
ing probably indicates the temper of the
British instructions which, there is reason
to believe, are couched in vigorous and
somewhat peremptory tone.
Up to noon the admiralty announced that
it was not prepared to offer an explanation
of the trawler incident, saying that Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky's report has not yet
reached the admiralty, where it was ex-
planned that it was not RojestvenskyS por-
tion of the squadron which stopped at
Cherbourg. 1t is pointed out that Rojest-
vensky's message will probably be filed
at Vigo, Spain, which presumably is the
first stopping point of his squadron.
Press Significantly Silent.
The press as whole is significantly silent
regarding the North Sea tragedy. The
papers generally publish without comment
foreign kilograms concerning the sinking
of the trawiers, indicating a desire not to
embarrass the government or complicate
an already extremely delicate situation by
any expression of opinion before all the
facts on both sides have been ascertalned.
One exception, however, is the Novoe
Vremya, which says that one of the minor
powers, before the sailing of the second
Pacific squadron, categorically informed
Russia of an impending attack on the YES
sells. The paper begs that judgment may
be suspended pending the receipt of Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky report, but de-
clares that full justice will be done by
Russia.
Besieged With Inquiries.
The admiralty and foreign office were be-
seged today with inquirers, correspondents
and diplomats, asking for the Russian ver-
sion of the trawler affair but the author
tiles have absolutely nothing to offer They
declare they are as much in the dark as
the public, and even more anxious for news.
1neXplicable as 1t may seem, the Asso-
cia ted Press positively assured IN the
reme of the minister of marine himself at
4:3Q o'clock this afternoon that no report
which has been telegraphing wildly to Lon
con. Cherbourg and Vigo, asking Tor an
immediate report.
The foreign office is greatly embarrassed
in meeting the British representations by
lack of news. AS a possible explanation OF
the failure to receive a report the admiralty
points out that Rojestvenskys division CT
the suuadDn did not stop at Cherbours'
but proceeded direct to Vigo.
If only the cruiser division was involVcd
ir the affair. upon it's arrival at Cherbourg
Rear Admiral Enauist. who commands that
division, may have forwarded his report 10
Roiestvensky at Vigo instead of to the ad-
miralty here. although in such an extra
ordinary case the Russian regulations re-
quire an immediate report to the admiralty
as we'll as to his superior officer in COM
nand of the squadron.
The conflicting nature of the British re-
ports of the affair are creating much COM
ment here One statement says the Rus
sian hospital ship Orel has some wounded
fishermen on board. This statement is
utterly inconsistent with the first reports 10
the effect that the Russians made no effort
to succor the drowning fishermen.
Emperor's Profound Regrets.
Foreign Minister Lamsdorff upon his re-
turn from visiting Emperor Nicholas at
Tsarskoe Seo this afternoon drove direct
to the British embassy, where he conveyed
to Ambassador Hardnge on behalf of the
emperor a message for communication to
King Edward and the British government
expressing the emperor's profound regret
at the news of the North incident and
stating that the emperor had not yet re-
ceived a report from his officers on the
subject, but asking the British amba assador,
nevertheless, to convey the assurance that
fullest reparation would be made to the
families of the sufferers.
Later the ambassador went to the foreign
office and formally presented a copy of his
Instructions. The note cOuched in a
moderate but firm tone.