Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-10-28
Another Speck OF War.

The Russian Baltic squadron com.
mitted an act Of unparalleled cruelty
and outrage on the Hull fishing fleet
in the North Sea, 200 miles off Spurn
Head, Saturday morning, by opening
without any apparent cause, fire on
the defenseless boats, sinking the
trawlcr Crane, and seriously Gripping
the Molmein and Mino, the latter
having sixteen holes shot in her hull.
The skipper and mate of the Crane
had their heads carried away by shots
from the squadron. This outrage has
caused the utmost excitement through
out England, and immediate explana.
ton and reparation were demanded.
AS result Of the state OF public
feeling in London a dispatch of Mon.
day states that Count Benchkendorff,
the Russian Ambassador, while return.
ing from celebration of his silver we'd
ding with his wife's relatives in Silesia,
barely escaped assault from crowd at
Victoria station, which followed him
almost into the embassy. The crowd
hooted and attempted to break the
windows of his carriage.
The Car waited till Wednesday for
some explanation from Vice Admiral
Rolestensky of his reasons for firing
into the fishing fleet, and not receiv-
ing it on that date, through Ambassa-
dor Hardinge, sent to King Edward
and the British government, message
conveying an expression of the pro-
foundest regret for the unfortunate
affair, with assurances that the fami.
lies OF the victims shall be accorded
the fullest reparation possible.
The British government meets the
exigency with commendable prudence
and moderation. Notwithstanding
the people and press have given tone
to the most bitter and incorporating
expressions, the govern ment, while
waiting an explanation without fixing
time limit, characterizes the act as
unjustitiable, deliberate and inhuman.
While making no threats, the note
specifically states that Great Britain
demands are reserved, pending the re.
ceipt OF an explanation.
The explanation of Admiral Rojest.
vensky. under date of Wednesday, does
not seem to be OF a nature which will
prove satisfactory, if indeed it allays
to any great degree, the excitement in
Great Britain. The claim that the
assault was accidental, or based upon
misapprehension of facts, will be re-
ceived with much discredit. The Ad
miral says that about one A. NJ, on
the day OF assault, he encountered two
torpedo boats, supposed to be Japan
ese, and in action. The Russians i'm
mediately opened fire. They saw nc
fishermen and were unaware of the
injury they had done. The fishing
vessels showed no lights.
This explanation shows, if nothing
else, the demorialized state OF mind
OF men whose nerves were strung to 6
high tension. Doubtless everything
they encountered was nightmare tt
them, and they were as ready to attack
imaginary as real foes.
1t is quito improbable the English
government will accept the excuse oil
Admiral Rojestvensky, even though
the Gar may interpose it as mitiga
ton that admits Of apology and money
reparation. The Admiral, English
papers insist, should be at once dis
missed the service, and all in authority
under him, who allowed a crazy mar
to predicate his cruel slaughter upor
vision of spirits from the vast deep
should he reduced to grade that in
wolves no responsibility for such san.
culinary results.
Since this answer of the Admiral hal
been published tunoflicially) a rumol
comes from London that Great Britain
has given Russia twenty-four hours tc
make her reply, and in the meantime
orders have been issued for placing all
naval vessels in readiness for duty
while fleet of warships and cruisers
have been directed to shadow the
Russian squadron through the Strait.
OF Gibraltar. 1t is evident that the
Cars reply must be the most abject
and pacific to stem the tide for wal
in England.
L ORR. CANnJnArE Enp