The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-27
ATTEMPT TO COAL AT vIGo.
Baltic Fleet Asks for Enough to
Reach Tangier-Spanish Au-
thOritieS Ratified.
(Bv the Associated Press.

Vigo, Spain, oct. 26.-The arrival
of the Russian battleships Emperor
Alexander III, Borodina, Orel and
Kniaz Souvaroff and the transport
Anatolv, which have anchored in this
port. has caused considerable excite
ment. The commander of the port
Immediately boarded the Russion flag
vensky that the Spanish government
could not permit the warships to coal
within the port Admiral Rojest-
vensky replied that his vessels needed
repairs and that for that reason he
had separated from the remainder of
his squadron. The commander of
the port promised to inform the Span
ish government of the admiraPs state
ment and communicate the govern
ment's reply as soon as it was re-
ceived. In spite of this five German
Golfers anchored in port alongside
the battleships, whereupon the com
mander of the port sent an aide-de-
camp to beg Admiral RejestVensky
not to violate Spanish neutrality, and
he also ordered the commanding Off
GER of the Spanish cruiser Estrama-
dura to notify the colliers that they
must obey the port authorities. Event
ually Admiral ROjeStvensky promised
that he would not coal in Spanish
DCSSlIlS
commander of the port to obtain the
governments permission for each war
ship to take on 400 tons of coal with
which to reach Tangier. Shortly af-
terWards three collierS sailed for Tan
gler, but two remained alongside the
Russian warships
During the afternoon Admiral Roi-
| estvensky, ACCOMPANIED by the COM
manders of his battleshi~s, visited the
| military governor, the French consul
and the commander f the port. re-
| ceiVing the usual honorS
| AS far as can be seen the crews of
the battleships are very uneasy. Sen
| tinels are closely watching every
! movement within the harbor All four
of the warships seem to be cleared for
action.
| 1t is rumored that the object of the
! Spanish government in requesting the
/ Russians to remain the shortest pos
sible time at Vigo is to prevent the
possibility of attack by Japanese
agents, whose presence in the prov
I ince of Galicia is suspected.
| It is learned that three other Russian
warships have anchored in Arosa Bay
| The government has refused them
permission to coal in Spanish waters
! The Spanish warshirs Marques De
! La Victoria and Vasco Nunes De Bal
| boa are keeping watch along the coast
The authorities have ordered thai
all fishing boats shall fly the national
! flag in order to avoid a repetition OF
! the Dogger Bank incident.
Prince Keretelli, an officer of the
| battleship Emperor TleXander III
| has been interviewed and gives the
| following explanation of the attack BY
/ the Baltic squadron upon the British
| trawiers off Dogger Bank:
THE transport Anatol which was
steaming ahead of the squadron, was
suddenly surrounded by eight torpedo
! boats and requested assistance, where
upon the battleship division advanced
and signalled to the unknown vessels
| to leave or disclose their nationality.
| The vessels refused to obey and ad-
vanced among the Russian battleships.
! Suddenly a cannon shot was heard
from an unknown vessel. Then the
admiral formed in battle line and re-
! Piled to the fire, afterwards continuing
! his voyage.
Prince Kereteli, added that the
Russians feared the strange torpedo
boats were Japanese as the admiral
was aware that the Japanese had pur-
chased such boats in England.