New-York tribune., 1904-10-25
RUSSIA VOICES REGRET.
: sorm0l fiction Expected To Be
Taken TO-day.

ST. Petersburg. Oct. 24.-No official unof-
ricial Russian explanation OF the unfortunate
AFFAIR Of Dogger Bank is forthcoming up 10 this
time. and the world must wait until Tomorrow
70 hear Vioe-Adnliral Rojestvensky's version OF
the firing upon the British fishermen. Rojest-
Vensky has communicated with the Emperor.
but at ll:3O O'Clock tonight the Admiralty an
nounced that It had not yet received a report
At the same hour the Foreign once issued a.
statement expressing the regrets OF the govern
ment for the deplorable incident. but explaining
that no formal action is pOssibl: until the ad-
N mirars report OF the affair has been received-
u While no formal action has been taken. the
deepest regret is expressed in all quarters. and
the purpose Of the government to make amends
~ Rojestvensky shall be found TO have been III
fault has been proclaimed in every government
6spartment. Emperor Nicholas himself was
greatly aggTieved when he heard the news. while
he was inspecting the cruiser oleg at Cronstads
this afternoon: and the Foreign Minister. Count
Lamsdorff. expressed TO Ambassador Hardinge
his deepest personal regrets The Russian En-
bassy at London has also been directed TO con-
vey similar expressions to the government OF
Great Britain It is felt that this is all that
can possibly be done pending the receipt Of Ad-
niral Ro5estvenskys statement.
NO ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY ACTION.
That horrible blunder has been committed
ss recognized and deplored everywhere and no.
where has an attempt been made TO justify the
firing on innocent fishermen. Il is felt that
RoJestvensIIy Is too good a man and officer TO
be sunmarily condemned. II Is agreed that
he is entitled TO a hearing. but even the Ad-
niralty regretfully admits that IL is at a loss
10 understand what explanation could justify
such an apparently cold-blooded act as the
affair is made to appear by foreign reports.
Il was made known to-day that the Admiralty
had strong reason TO believe that an attempt
would be made against the squadron its
passage through the Great Belt or the English
Channel So specific was the information that
even the present crisis has not diverted atten-
tion from the possibility Of such an attack yet
occurring The failure OF the steam trawlers
with their nets out to obey the signals from the
Russian warships or the nervousness OF some
Ofloer who imagined that fishermen working
with their nets IN the water were laying mines.
may be responsible for the blunder
AS soon as the facts established II Is
certain that the Russian government will volun-
tarily offer the fullest reparaton. It is even
hinted that the Emperor tomorrow win send a
formal message 10 King Edward conveying his
profound sorrow for the incident and offering to
make what PREPARATION is possible as soon as
the responsibility can be met IN an amcable
spirit by Great Britain.
FORMAL PROTEST NOT YET PRESENTED.
Notwithstanding the provocation which may
seem 10 exist for most vigorous and uncompro-
missing demands for redress Ambassador Har-
dinge had not presented any instructions from
his government up TO o'clock this evening and
up 70 midnight il had been impossible to ascer-
tain whether instructions had actually been re-
ceived
In diplomatic circles the gravity and delicacy
of the situation is recognized. Unquestionably
nervousness exists, but in view of the sentiment
in government circles here the feeling prevails
that an amcable adjustment viii be reached.
This evening the censor passed all kilograms
relating to the subject. which Immediately be-
came the all-absOrbing topic in every public re
sort The war in the Far East seemingly was
temporarily forgotten.
Notwithstanding the latent sentiment OF hos
Utility agains; Great Britain which shoulders in
almost every Russian breast. the reports OF the
buncer Of the Baltic feet have aroused only eX-
pressions of sincere regret, coupled with hopes
that when Rojestvensky's report arrives IL will
place a different complexion on the incident.
The AFFAIR. strange TO say, had no effect on the
Bourse. fours closing where they aid on Satur-
day.