The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-10-28
ANGLO-RUSSIAN SITUATION.

The situation growing out of the
action of the Russian squadron in
sinking the British trawlers is de-
scribed in the days dispatches as
acute, but still capable of a satisfac-
tory adjustment.
The eagerly awaited report of Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky has been re-
ceived by his emperor, but his ex-
PLANTATION only serves to increase the
mystery and throw an additional SEN
sational feature into the affair. He
says that he was attacked in the dark
ness by two torpedo craft which came
from the direction of the fishing fleet
and that if the fire he directed against
the torpedo boats struck the traWlers
it was accidental and he. expresses his
warm regret at the occurrence.
Russian dispatches place much
stress upon the report as giving an
entirely new aspect to the situation
and point out that the skipper of the
trawler Moulmein, in an interview on
Sunday night, said that two torpedo
vessels approached the feet and that
the firing followed. The report of Carr,
the admiral OF the fishing fleet, how
ever, made no mention OF this incident.
Ambassador BenckendOrff, III an in
terview with Lord Lansdowne; took
exception to the British demand for
the punishment Of the offending Off
GERS, maintaining that sucR punish
ment could only be taken on the spon-
taneOuS initiative OF the emperor and
that such demand from foreign
power could not be entertained 1t is
regarded as certain that a meeting OF
the British cabinet will be called
shortly and at this the question of
Great Britain's adherence to or reces-
sion from this demand will be de
cided.
From the best information it is be.
lieved that no time limit has been fixed
by Great Britain for compliance with
her demands, but the significant state.
ment is made that it is generally un-
derstOod in London that the passage
of Gibraltar by the Russian fleet will
be barred pending satisfactory reply.
In the meantime uncOncealed activity
prevails in British naval circles.
The Russian squadron remains at
the Spanish port Of Vigo, where it put
in Wednesday.
London, Oct. 28-Up to this hour
there is no sign of an end to the dead.
lock over the question of the punish.
ment of the Russian officers respon.
sible for the North sea tragedy, SO the
Associated Press understands. AS re.
CARDS the British demands for their
punishment being an infringement OF
Russia's sovereignty and rights Am
bassador Benckendorff, in his inter
view with Lord LansdoWne during the
day, maintained that such punishment
must be taken on the spontaneous in
itiative OF the emperOr's government
and that a demand from a foreign
power that Russia shall punish her
officers cannot be entertained. In any
event it was impossible for the Rus.
sian government to mete out punish
ment without having before it a state.
ment of facts as presented by it's own
officers.
There is no indication of Lord Lans.
dOWne withdrawing his demand and
though the dispute has not yet reached
an ultimatum stage, it is likely to do
SO if the day passes without some
recognition of punishment in principle
by the emperor's government Rus.
sia's continued failure to comply with
the British demand in this respect
creates gloomier feelings in diplomatic
circles, which had shared with Lord
Lansdowne the impression that Russia
would eventually agree to this point.
While no time limit for the receipt
of Russia's reply has been fixed it is
generally understood that the route OF
the Russian squadron past Gibraltar
will be barred by the channel squad
ron, ~--~-" d.