The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-24
FIRE ON FISHING FLEET
Continued from First Page.>

public opinion insists that the fullest rep
a Sd,,o De mace there Is no evidence OF
ternational complication will arise Trad
ing on the stock exchange was slightly af-
recovered
The foreign office this morning was
with the fishing fleet, who are being ex-
naustlyely examined by the officials. so
y yna1 tne precise facts on which Lord
the day may be established.
Washington Is Notified.
washington, Oct. 24.-Ohicial news of
the action of the Russian Baltic sea
neet in firing on British fishing vessels
reached Washington today in cable
gram 10 the state department from the
american consul at Hull He recited
the facts as stated in the press dis
patches and added that great excite
ment prevailed there.
"a ProdiSious Blunder.
Berlin, Oct. PA prodigious blum
der is the German official verdict upon
the attack of the Russian second Pa
cific squadron on the British fishing
fleet 1t is assumed that the Russian
government will make a reparation i'm
mediately after receiving the official
report which will be telegraphed from
some French port probably today. The
excitement in Great Britain is regard
ed here as being fully justifable, but
the British cabinet, it is believed, will
take the view that the deplorable affair
was the fault of rash officers.
German naval officers refer to the in
cident as evidence that the Russian
squadron is badly differed.
St. Petersburg Is Astonlshed.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 24-2:15 p. M
No official information from Vice Ad-
n1iral Rojestvinsky. commander of the
Second Pacific squadron, or from other
Russian sources had reached the au-
thorities here as this dispatch is written
in regard to the firing by the squadron
upon British fishing boats early Satur-
day morning in the North sea- The au-
thoritieS are dumbfounded by the press
reports OF the affair and can not credit
the accounts as presented. For this rea-
son the censor today declined to allow
the publication of the foreign accounts
Of the affair.
Incident Is DepIored.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 24.-Ambassador
Hardings, although momentarily ex-
pecting instructions from the British
government on the subject of the
North sea incident had not received
any at noon today.
In the highest quarters, where the
reports were circulated the gravity of
the affair. was fully realized and the
incident was greatly deplored. That
Russia will offer apologies and repara-
ton and make honorable amends ad-
mits of no doubt but with the inf1amed
public opinion in Great Britain and
the Vladivostok squadron of the Brit
ieh steamer Knight Commander and
the Red sea incidents, it is recognized
that the situation may become acute
unless the cool heads among the Brit
iBh statesmen proceed calmly. Unfort-
unately in meeting such a situation
the Russian governmental machinery
tB SO cumbersome as to render the
prompt action which such q situation
seems to demand almost impossible.
Everything will depend on the charac-
ter of the British demands. Here it is
considered lies the principal danger of
a possible rupture. If they go to the
extent of demanding the punishment of
Vice Admiral RojestvenSky, or even the
recall of the squadron, as some of the
British newspapers intimate, it is like
ly to create a situation which would
make it hard If not impossible to hum
bic Russian pride to such an extent.
Unfortunately" said a high placed
admiral to the Associated Press, I'VE
have not yet received the report of
Admiral RojestvenSky upon which we
can act The press reports are incredi-
BILE to me. I know Rojestvensky as
careful, prudent man and 1 cannot be-
lieve that he would order his squadron
TO fire into a feet OF fishing smacks in !
such a cold blooded fashion as report |
ed by the dispatches. There must be |
some explanation of which we are
still in ignorance"
Did you have any reason to believe !
that an attempt might be made to at |
tack the squadron asked the cores
pondent. Yes" replied the official. |
I'VE had some information which i'm /
posed particular care upon RoJeStVen- /
sky
Gould it have been the act of a cap
tain who perhaps was haunted by fear
of an attempt upon the squadron, lost ,
his head and gave the order to fire
without authority"
No, I do not think so. Only the ad- |
miral could assume such a RESPONSE |
bility, especially as the dispatches rep /
resent the squadron as sailing in
squadron formation We all intensely
deplore the incident and if a mistake !
has been made as appears to be the I
case, Russia will make every amend 4
possible. You are safe in announcing
that
Terrified Russians.
Cherbourg, France, Oct. 24.-The
advance guard of the Russian second |
Pacific squadron, consisting of torpedo
boats, is in the outer harbor. The
main squadron is expected here but /
it is not yet certain whether the war
ships will enter the harbor. The YES
sells which first arrived here were not
with the larger ships when the latter
the North sea Saturday morning.
Therefore it is not yet possible to OBJ
tain the Russian version of the affair.
The Russian torpedo boats are sur
rounded by guardboats and the utmost
vigilance is maintained. No person is
permitted to approach them, and no
person is allowed to come ashore, ex-
cept the pOStman. The boats are fur |
nished with the wireless telegraph
equipment They took on provisions
from the transport Korea. During last !
night and this morning the vigilance
was redoubled, owing to the fears of
japanese ships being in the channel.
Three Russian torpedo boats and the
transport Korea headed out to sea dur
ing the day, probably for the pur-
pose of communicating with the main
squadron.
The newspapers report that the tor
pedo boats received wireless tele-
gram from the Russian flagship yes
terday warning their commanders to
exercise extra vigilance as it was
feared that a Japanese attempt might
be made upon the squadron while in
the channel.