The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-27
RISKING CHANCE OF WAR.
Quarrel OF Russian Bureaus Adds TO Gravity
of the situation.

WASHINGTON Oct 2B.-In spite Of the
unfavorable turn Of the news from St.
Petersburg and London this afternoon
announcing that Lord Lansdowne is dis
satisfied with the Russian reply to British
demands in the North Sea affair, and that
the Russians are circulating the report
that the British fishing feet was not fired
upon at all, but that only collision had
occurred, the State Department still enter
tains the hope that a settlement of differ
enccs will be reached within day or two.
1t is conceded that il Russia should set
up the claim that there was 10 shooting,
and that the casualty was the result merely
of a collision, the temper of the British
Government might be aroused to danger
Gus pitch. The unanimous testimony OF the
fishermen was to the effect that the Russian
vessels fired upon them for about twenty
minutes. Fragments of shells were found
on the trawlers and holes in the hulls Of one
or two of the boats demonstrated con-
cusively the effect of solid shot.
To deny that any shots were fired would,
in the opinion of the Department officials.
give riso to the suspicion in England that
the attack, heretofore regarded as stupid
blunder was a wilful and premeditated
af.ront. The British Government, it is
thought here. will not long trihe with any
evasive or palpably false statement OF
the cause of the disaster to the fishermen.
1t l. now expected that the report Of the
Russ ian naval commander will niniTize
the incident. Naturally Adm iral Rojest-
vensky " III gloss over the blunder as much
as pos IDLE. even though il may not have
been committed under his own orders
The Admiralty, moreover, is in the habit
of upholding its officers, whether right or
wrong, and it is hardly believed that strictly
truthful reports of the affair, even if for
wareled by the Russian commander. will
reach the Foreign Office on account OF the
intest tine feud which threatens to rend the
Russian Government in twain. Rather than
admit the damaging truth that those on
the Russian feet responsible for the out
rage were panic stricken or drunk, the
Adm iralty. it is believed in some quarters,
NAV risk war with England, leaving the
perplexed Foreign Once to patch up the
difficulty as best it can.
No credit is given by the State Depart
ment 10 the persistent expressions IN the
press that the North Sea incident was
deliberately conceived and executed for
the purpose of dragging England into the
war, thus giving Russia an excuse 10 de-
clare that it cannot be expected 10 fight
the whole world al one time. 1t Is pointed
out hat Russia. even acting under the pc
culiarly fa;a impulses tina: have charac-
terized her recent moves, would hardly be
guilty of the incredible folly of placing
her last naval force az the mercy of the
overwhelming fleets Of Great Britain. II
Russia had cared to embroil Great Britain
she could have done so on several favorable
occasions during the past six months.
The conclusion reached here and still held,
despite he mysIifying reports from abroad,
is that he North Sea fishermen were fired
upon in a moment of panic or sheer reck-
lessness, inspired either by fear of the
Japanese or by excessive indulgence in
drink by the officers and men.