The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
MUST ANSWER QUICK
SITUATION rs ONE WHICH DOES
NOT BROOK DELAY
URGENT OFFICIAL NOTE TO RUSSIA
King Edward Declares the North Sea
Attack an unwarrantsble Action
Whole British Public in a State Of
Frenzy, and II Is Up to Russia to
Explain Her Action, and at Once.

AouuOn, 8Ct. E4.-LTtdL biilAiu 10
day sent a long and urgent note to the
Russian government, officially detail
Ing the circumstances of the amazing
and unexplained attack by the Rus
sian second Pacific squadron during
the night of October % on British fish
Ing boats in the North Sea. The text
OF the notes has not been given out
but it is officially stated from the for
eign office that 1t contains the signiti'
cant announcement that "the situation
is n which, in the opinion of His
Majesty's government, does not brook
delay
Meanwhile, the conservative public
and press are remarkably undemon,
stratiye, AS usual, the lingo element
demands war, and even in official
quarters some go SO far as to say that
1t may be necessary TO stop the Pacific
fleet pending settlement of the whole
affair, though this extreme measure,
1t is believed, will not be necessary.
Everywhere there is evidence of the
very positive opinion that this is no
time for the usual diplomatic dillydal,
lying; that there must be no delay and
no limit set by Russia to her apology
or the extent of compensation for suf.
ferers by what King Edward, in a mes.
sage of sympathy to the Mayor of
Hull, himself terms "the unwarranta.
bic action of the Baltic squadron
commands.
The deep resentment of the whole
British public, however, is reflected
by the incident at the Victoria station
tonight on the arrival of Count Benck.
endorff from the Continent. There is
no attempt anywhere among men of
responsibility to magnify the occur.
renee into a deliberate act Of war, but
in view Of the present inability to find
an explanation there is being poured
upon the heads of the officers of the
squadron a flood of ~invectiye and In.
situation, though incompetence first
and thereafter complete panic Is the
most generally accepted explanation.
St. Petersburg Silent.
Thus far no official word has been
received from st. Petersburg as to the
attitude of the Russian government.
The fact that 1t had been decided dur
ing the day to prepare a semi-officia.
note expressing the regret Of the Rus
sian government and its willingness tc
make full reparation SO 0 0 as the re
sponsibility Is fixed, was communi.
by the Associated Press to Lore
and was the first informa-
ton on the subject he had received
from st. Petersburg. The absence
the day of Count Benckendorft,
the Russian ambassador, necessarily
caused some delay; but the Russian
d'affairs, who called at the for
eign office on request by note from
Lord Lansdowne, unoficially ex.
pressed deep regret, and, as far as it
was possible for him to CO., gave as,
surances of speedy action by the Rus.
sian government. Lord L~ansdowne,
In this interview, told M. S%ansonoff
the charge, that he desired to see AM
bassador Benckendorff Tuesday norm
ing. Lord L%ansdowne asked M. San,
sonof If he could offer any explanation
Of the affair, and the latter replied
he only knew what had appeared
In the papers, and that he had not re
any word up to that time from
st. Petersburg, Lord L~ansdowne gave
no suggestion as to what might be
done in the matter.
At the Russian embassy it was stat.
I'd that the whole affair was SO OBJ
a mistake, from whatever
that Russia's course was plain
y indicated, namely, apology and rep
a%ration."
All eyes are now turned towards
st. Petersburg awaiting word from
he Russian government.
Actual Casualties.
The actual casualties during the
,ne-sided bombardment off Dogger
Sank can be correctly stated since the
at London this evening of the
ship, Swift, reporting the
afety Of the missing trawlers. The
Swift left the fleet at 10 a. m. October
3. Her captain says:
"The Russians gave not the slight
'st warning prior to the commence
nent of the firing. The admiral of
he fishing fleet sent up a rocket
warning, and then the firing com
nenced. We again sent up green
ockets, but this only ~"emed to In,
rease the ferocity of the lombard !
nent. The poor craftsmanship of the
gunners was the only thing
hat saved the entire feet within
ange of the searchlights and guns"
Al the inquest at Hull today 1t was
tated that n vessel, the Crane, was
unE and that four or five were more
r less damaged. In the statement of
be coroner to the jury, that Official |
1t was a question OF very grave
nd possibly international importance; |
ut 1t would be their duty to find who
'ere the m%urderers of the dead men. |
.fter the identification Of the bodies
he inquest adjourned to November 2. |
lob After the Russian Ambassador. |
London, Oct. 24.-Count Bencken.
orff, the Russian ambassador, re-
irned to London tonight from cele.
his silver wedding with his
relatives In Silesia, and barely
assault from a crowd at the
ictoria station, which followed him
most into the embassy.
Fortunately for the issue of peace
: war, nothing resulted, yet through
ut the night a special police force
compelled to guard the Russian
nbassy. There Is no doubt that
cunt Benckendorf's feelings were
seply wounded by tonight's demon
Authorities Dumfoundcd.
ST.. Petersburg, Oct. 2%4.t-2:15 p.m.)
no official information from Vice
Rojestvensyy, commander Of
second Pacific squadron, or from