The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-16
BALTIC FLEET At woo
Admiral Rojestvensky Arrives in the
Spanish Port to Cca|.
MISTAKE WAS UNAVOIDABLE

After Protesting That His Ships Need
ed Repairs the Russian Commander
Was Finally Allowed to Anchor-Re-
ceives and Sends Messages In Cipher
Through the Russian Consul.
yigo. Spain.--The Russian battle
ships Borodino, Imperator. Alexander
H., Orel and Kniaz Su%varoff. Admiral
Roiestvensky's flagship, and the trans
port Amadul have anchored in the har-
Dor.
Immediately after the arrival Of tue
Russian warships, the port command
ant boarded the Kniaz Suvarof and
told the admiral that the Spanish
Government had instructed him not to
| allow the fleet to embark stores here.
The admiral answered.:
The machinery of some Of our ships
is damaged. That is why l have sep
arated from the squadron. I do not
know how long it will take to repair,
but repairs are necessary, and / must
anchor for this purpose"
The admiral stated that the unfor-
tunate North Sea occurrence was pure
ly accidental. The weather the night
in question was rather hazy. At about
1 a.. m. two torpedo boats, which the
Russians supposed were Japanese
craft, suddenly appeared between the
two divisions of the squadron and
seemed to discharge torpedoes.
The Russians Immediately opened
fire. They saw no fishermen, and were
not aware that any damage had been
done.
Evidently. the admiral said, the fish
ermen had shown no lights.
The c~ommandant said he would ask
bis Government for instructions and
again communicate with Admiral Ro-
j~estvensky.
The Russian commander also protest
ed against SPANS refusal to allow his
feet to coal at Vigo. He said that If
he could no coal he could not leave.
After the port commandant went
ashore German Golfers went alongside
the warships preparatory to coaling
them. The commandant ~thereupon
sent a representative to repeat the
Governments orders and to request
the Russians not to violate Spain's
neutrality. He also requested the
/ Spanish cruiser Estremadura to send
boats to notify the Golfers to observe
the instructions Of the officers Of the
port. The Golfers, however, did not
move.
Presently Admiral R~ojestvensky and
the captains of the warships landed in
uniform to pay a formal visit to the
Military Governor, the port command
ant and the French Consul. They
were received by a guard Of honor and
4 military band. Presumably the COM
mandant, during his interview with the
Russians. prevailed over Admiral Ro-
~iestvensky's objections, for after the
latter returned to his flagship he gave
his word Of honor to the command
ants representative that he would not
coal in Spanish waters, but at the
same time he urged the Spanish Gov
eminent be again asked to allow each
Russian vessel to ship 400 tons of coal
to enable them to reach Tangier.
The Russian Consul boarded the flag
ship. taking dispatches for Admiral
ROjestvensky.
Admiral Ro~jestvensky Immediately
replied to three cipher dispatches that
the Russian Consul delivered to him.
The warships were cleared for &C.
ton.
The German steamer Pailas, which
was with the fleet, carried ammuni-
ton as we'll as coal.
In addition to the warships i'll the
harbor a score were outside.