The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-10-27
RUSSIA AWAITING
ADMIRAL'S REPORT
Great Britain Won't Make Demands
Until Explanation is Made.
CAR PROMISES PREPARATION
Il Is Believed When Demands Are
Made They Must be Promptly Com
Piled with or Rupture Will Follow.
British Fleet Ready

Piled with or Rupture viii Follow.
British Fleet Ready.
~ Petersburg. oct. 26.--Nice Ad,
miral RoicsNensky reasons for fir
ing into the British fishing fleet re-
main as great a mystery as ever.
Again the admiralty announced that
the admiral's report OF the affair had
not been received. Meantime. with
out waiting the Russian version Of the
AFFAIR Emperor Nicholas through Am
bassador lIardnge. has sent To Kine
Edward and the British government
a message conveying an expression ot
the proiuundest regret for the uniort-
innate AFFAIR. coupled with assurances
that the families of the victims should
receive the fullest reparatlon. The
British government also shows mOdcr.
alton in the note which Sir Charles
Hardinge presented TO Foreign Minis.
ter LamsdorN While ii awaits eN-
PLANTATION for an act which is charac-
terizes in strong language as unjust
liable. deliberate and inhuman 1t
makes no threats. fixes no time limit
for response. and contains no de-
mands. the note specifically stating
that Great Britains demands are re-
served panding receipt OF an explana-
ton.
The willingness of Great Britain 10
await the Russian explanation before
formulating demands shows consider
alton for the position in which Russia
had been placed by deplorab.e blum
der AZ the same time this consider
alton has an ominous ring about it,
only serving to emphasize the gravity
OF the situation the language OF the
note admitting Of no doubt that when
the demands are ultimately presented
Great Britain intends 10 insist upon
fun compliance with them. From the
diplomatic standpoint the very fact
that Great Britain has not shown her
hand Strengthens her position. What
the naturcof the demands Will be must
necessarily be a matter OF speculation
until Admiral Roiestvensky report
arrives but If the important allegation
i'm the note is established. namely
that the squadron actually changed
formation before opening fire it would
seem TO fix the responsibility upon
Roiestvens5y: and whoever the author
OF the offeuse may be- II is regarded
as certain that Great Britain will de-
mand. among other things his punish
ment. II is also considered certain that
failure 10 promptly comply with the
demands viii be Immediately followed
by Ambassador Hardinges recall.
Although some nervousness is per
cepuble in diplomatic circles. gener-
ally speaking there is the greatest
confidence. both among diplomats arl
high officials of the government that
the affair will be amcably adjusted.
A tour of the embassies and lega-
tons showed that the sentiment was
almost unanimous that Russia would
make every repatriation. and that the
incident would be adjusted. unless
Great Britain's demands sho.ld be IN
reasonable. which it was thought they
would not be- Nevertheless. the great
est activity was manifested at all the
LEGATIONS. Cipher dispatches we're com
ing and going and the foreign Office
was besieged by under secretaries and
ministers. all eager for information
The scenes gave forcible reminder of
those Immediately preceding the sew
eranCe Of diplomatic relations with
Japan At the admiralty there were
similar scenes of activity. The corri-
doris were full OF newspaper cores
pondents and naval attaches awaiting
information regarding Rojestyenskys
report but the admiralty had nothing
to offer I'm explanation of the extra
ordinary silence. II IS felt that this
delay is one of the most serious fea-
lures of the situation. While the
British note fixes no time limit for
Russia's reply, it is argued that the
protracted delay of the admirals re-
port will do more than anything else
to inname British public opinion and
render final adjustment difficult.