New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-16

the platform asked the first two witnesses il
the men of the trawler fleet had reported see
ing other warships besides the Russian vessels.
but apparently only the Russian vessels had
been met.
NO WAR MUNITIONS ON TRAWLERS.
The witnesses all denied that any arms. am
nunition oontraband were board the
trawlers There no room, 1t was added, to
carry torpedo.
Several former fishermen. now ships hus-
bands" the maritime storekeepers are termed
in Hull. swore that nothing put on board
the trawiers except supplies and coal
RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVE.
After luncheon it was announced that DR..
Herbert Woodhouse would represent the Rus
sian Embassy at the inquest Dr. Woodhouse
holds a merely watching brief. Neither he nor
the Russian Consul here is in possession of any
evidence tending to prove that Japanese torpedo
boats We're In the neighborhood of Dogger Bank
that Japan exercised any influence upon the
fishing fleet.
suggestion by the Russian Consul that the
Smelling was due to the trawlers failing TO stop
when blank shots were fired and the fact that
the lights were extinguished on at least one
traw!er is considered here in some degree to ex-
plain, though not to excuse. the attack by the
Russians.
Commander G. C. Frederick the first wit
ness in behalf Of the Admiralty. He had drawn
up diagram showing the probable positions of
the Russian vessels and the trawlers Com
mander Frederick said the Russian squadron
was thirty miles out of its way. Replying to Dr.
woodhouse he admitted that If it apprehended
danger it would be only natural to deviats from
the ordinary course.
The skipper Of the trawler Keith, in reply to
+I,oA +hara Inv
trawlers and no Japanese present, and that no
Japanese agents made any suggestion to him
whatever It would have been impossible for
the trawIers he added, to screen a torpedo boat,
DIR. woodhouse elected from the witness that
the trawlers did not attempt to show distress or
other signals with the view of getting the Rus
slams to cease firing. The skipper OF the Snipe
related how his vessel had been hit. DR.. Wood
house asked him why he had not stopped when
nails of distress, adding:
Did you want to get hit AGAIN."
The skipper, in the broadcast Yorkshire da-
lect, replied:
A surgeon of the North Sea hospital ship
Alpha was the last witness. and brought out the
rather important statement that all the Aphas
lights were extinguished as soon as the firing
began.
CASE TO BE CONTINUED AT LONDON.
At the conclusion of the hearing the commits
sioners expressed satisfaction at the progress
made. It is hoped that all the testimony re-
garding the cause Of the shooting will be con-
cluded by the afternoon of November II. Cases
Of personal injury Will then be taken up. These
are expected to be finished by November is,
when the venue WIFI be changed to London,
where the assessment of material damage will
begin. This is likely TO prove the most intricate
part of the inquiry. AS intimated to-day, an
effort will be made TO establish broad claims for
indirect compensation on account Of the disin-
tegration of the trawling industry consequent on
the Dogger Bank affair.
The findings of the court will be sent to the
Board OF Trade, and will be submitted to the
international commission. 1t is not likely that
they will be published before the commission
begins its sessions.