Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-10-28
BRITISH VESSELS SUNK
Fired Upon in the North Sea by
Russian Baltic Fleet
Two Men Killed. Score Wounded and
Two Vessels Mlsslng-Eneland Has
Demanded Immediate Reparation.

The Russian Baltic fleet while pass
ing south through the North Sea at 1
o'clock Saturday morning opened fire on
the Hull fishing fleet CBritish), sinking
the steam trawer Crane, decapitating
two men, wounding nearly score of
others; two of the fishing vessels were
damaged by shot, one of them seriously,
while at last accounts two others were
missing, and may have sunk. The Rus
sian ships swept the fishing fleet with
searchlights, and sent several torpedo
boats to inspect them before opening
fire; after firing for about twenty min
utes the Russian ships went on their
course, never having held up, and passed
Dover into the English Channel dur
ing Sunday. The torpedo boats attached
to the Baltic fleet are at Cherbourgh,
France, where they have taken great
precautions against a japanese attack.
Apparently the attack on the fishing
fleet was due to an excessive fear that
the japanese would attempt destruction
of the Baltic fleet
Definite action by Russia in reparation
for the attack awaits the official report
of Admiral Roiestvensky, which appar-
emily has not been received in ST. Peters
burg. Russian diplomatic officials, in
cluding Foreign Minister Lamsdorff, have
expressed their keen personal regrets at
the occurrence. The British naval at
tache in st. Petersburg has transmitted
a warning to the Russian admiralty in the
shape of notice that there are other Brit
ish fishing vessels off the Spanish coast.
The British note to Russia is said to de-
mand in addition to an apology and am
pie damages to the sufferers, a rigid and
speedy investigation of the affair, the fix
ing of responsibility for the outrage and
punishment of the officers involved The
Russian ambassador in Rome is reported
saying that the Baltic fleet had been
hDt Ion ra,,te t-,,,1I
to injure the Russian ships by explosives
by small vessels, and he thinks that ex-
plosiVes must have actually been thrown
from vessels of the Hull fleet before the
Russians opened fire. The Baltic fleet
will coal at Vigo, Spain, and at Arosa
Island near there; nine Golfers are
awaiting the warships.
In Manchuria it is reported that the
Russians have again crossed the Shakhe
and are moving slowly toward the jap
anese lines, intrenching as they go. 1t is
understood in St Petersburg that Oyama
is being heavily re-enforced. and 1t is
feared that he may be strong enough to
assume a formidable offensive against
Kuropatkin Oku's total casualties from
oct. 10 to Oct % are officially reported
as 6422. The Japanese troops are being
specially equipped to with stand the cold
weather.
The japanese headquarters in the field
report that 1888 dead Russians hav.
been found by the Japanese; the total
Russian casualties are estimated by the
japanese officials at the front as over
60, 900.
Dispatches yesterday stated that Rus
sia refused to entertain demand by Eng
land for guaranty of punishment OF Of
ficers responsible for the North sea trag-
edy, and that a crisis might be reached
within "a hours. The English channel
squadron is waiting for the Russian fleet
at Gibralta, and the Mediterranean squad
ron has been ordered toward Suez.
France is said to have given both ma
tions TO understand that she will not be
involved should the disputants resort to
hostilities.