Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-11-03
OURS Woo AT LAST
Rojestvensky Dragging His Name
In Sections Across the Sea.
RUSSIA SUSPICIOUS OF ENGLAND.
Great Anxiety Expressed That the
Baltic Fleet VIII he stopped
Again Before 1t Goes Through
the Sues Canal.

st. Petersburg, Nov. 1.-The four Of
acers detached from the Baltic squad
ron to testify regarding the North Sc
AFFAIR are expected to reach St. Peters
burg In two days. 1t is hoped the.
will be able to throw clear light up
ON this mysterious incident.
The news Of the departure OF Vic
Admiral Rojestvensky and his ship
from Vigo has considerably relieved
che tension here. The great mass o.
Russians are quite as suspicious o.
Great Britain's motive as Britons are
81 Russia's purposes. and there has
been considerable apprehension here
that Great Britain might use the
trawler incident as a pretext for de-
tanning the Baltic squadron. This ap-
prehension is now largely allayed
though fears are expressed in some
quarters that there may be further
complications before the feet gets
through the Suez canal or around the
Cape Of Good Hope. The situation,
however, is being more dispassionate-
1y discussed, and charges against the
fishermen are no longer being de-
claimed. Due allowance is also made
for the evaporation Of Great Britain
over the seemingly callous action Of
Admiral Rojestvensky in going his
way after firing on the ,trawlers and in
not reporting the incident until he
reached Vigo. The explanation offered
in the highest source seems to acquit
the admiral of all blame. 1t is point
ed out that he could not send dis
patch by torpedo boat, all craft of
that description being ahead of the bat
tleships and cruisers, and that he had
no alternative except to detach a
cruiser. Admiral Rojestvensky was
too apprehensive of revealing his
whereabouts to do this, fearing an
attack in British waters, and 80, 1t is
theorized, decided to proceed to Vigo
with the whole Of his squadron.
From another reliable source the
Associated press learns that the CIR
cumstances Of the firing as detailed by
Russian officers closely resemble the
facts reported by the admiral Of the
flbhing feet. When abreast Of the
trawlers the Russian squadron was
formed In two divisions, the cruisers
steaming east and the battleships
west, the latter getting among the
fishing feet and opening fire. When
nearly clear of the fishing craft,
which were heading toward the bat
tleships, some Russian shells flew over
the trawlers and struck cruisers, one
OF which, the Aurora, was hit several
times and some of her men were
wounded. Including a nriAat who
Med the transport Hnatol apparent
iy became tangled among the trawl-
ers, which she inistook for torpedo
boats and signalled for aid. thereby
leading the officers of the battleships
10 believe the trawlers were attacking
the Anatol. This, coupled with the
appearance of two mysterious torpedo
boats steaming towards the battle
ships, resulted in the fatal cannon
ade.
Not to England's Liking.
London, Nov. 2.-The fact that Ad-
miral Rojestvensky with his fleet
allied from vigo Is not to the liking |
uf a considerable section of the Brit
sh press. A reconsideration of the
actual words Premier Balfour used in
his speech at Southampton last Friday
night shows that he did not promise
hat the fleet would be detained at
Vigo, but that 1t would be was the
general impression drawn by the pub
ic from his utterances, and accord
ngly there is keen disappointment at
he turn the affair has taken.
ships Manned by Landamen9
London, Nov. spanish pilots, &C.
Ording to the Madrid correspondent
4 the Standard, report that most of
he Russian vessels in Spanish ports
'ppear to have more than the usual
of men. large proportion
apparently being landsmen. The YES
els, the correspondent adds, are re-
'orted to be tolerably clean.
Negotiations Are Favorable.
London, Nov. Negotiations be-
veN Great Britain and Russia look
NC to q settlement Of the North sea
Ihair are progressing favorably and
here is not the slightest danger Of
fiction arising between the two gov
anments.