Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-11-03
PRICE THREE CENTS.
INCIDENT is CLOSED.
Attack on British Fishermen to os
Left 70 Arbitration.

Left to Arbitration.
The incident OF the killing OF BrfLisss
fishermen in the North Sea by vessels Of
the Russian Baltic squadron, which fo.-
several days kept these two powers ga
the verge OF war, Is now considered closed
for the present. A proposition from Gress
Britain that he whole matter be left T..
the Hague peace tribunal for arbitrator
was promptly accepted. Il was only b.
wise official action that trouble rss
averted.
Great Britain's position was set forth IL
speech by Premier Balfour at South
ampton Friday. The ascertainment q
the facts for submission to a commission,
formed under the rules OF The Hague
peace conference, will be through the
coroner's inquest at Hull, an investigation
by the British board OF trade and the
examination OF officers OF the Russian
ships which fired upon the fishermen
In his speech Mr. Balfour cast ridicala
upon the official explanation of AdmMas
Rolestyensky, but praised the spirit Tn
which the Russian emperor and goyeFa-
ment had met the crisis
The Russian government ordered al
the vessels concerned in the affair to
tarry at Nigo, spain, until an investiga
tion could be had as 10 the facts which
prompted hring on the trawlers. The
government also undertook that ure-
cautions should be taken TO guard against
such occurrences in future
Admiral Rojestvensky first communi-
Gated with his government upon reaching
Nigo. His version Of the North Sea
incident was that about a. m. two tor
pedo boats, which the Russians supposed
were japanese craft, suddenly appeared
between the two divisions OF the squadron
and seemed 10 discharge torpedoeB. The
Russians Immediately opened fire. They
saw no fishermen, and were not aware
that any damage had been done Evi-
dently, the admiral said, the fishermen
had shown no lights. The admiral sAiGl
that he greatly regretted that any injury
had been done fishermen. and added thag
he had no doubt the Russian government
would make ample compensation.
Great Britain is bound, before lnsisiin E
on compensation, 10 prove that the Rns-
sian admiral is mistaken as to the tor
pedo boats. In Russia the opinion =
general that the boats did appear among
or near the fishing boats. The first British
report was that two torpedo boats sud
denly came upon them, whereupon thia
war vessels opened iire. The fisherlaem
supposed these TO be Russian craft, has
Rojestvensky insists that there were no
Russian torpedo boats in the locality
The investigation will determine this
The Russians had been warned TO lOsz
out for stealthy attempt on the part oG
boats fitted out in nearby ports to attacsS
them. In England IL is believed thss
the torpedo boats were phantom, and tke
Russians in their excitement fired on tks
fishing boats, supposng them to be hoe
tile.
A part ofthe Baltic squadron has eTa-
tered the Mediterranean on it's WY
toward the Suez canal.
japanese official reports regarding TIE
siege OF Port Arthur Indicate that the al
tack begun on October "A was stu ~
progress on October ~, the statomenA
being made that the fire OF the besiegers.
was increasing in effectiveness, Nothing
Of importance has developed on the Shnk-
he river, where both sides seem to hesilAsa
TO assume the offensive, although the
Japanese are the more active IN the matter
Of attacks upon Russian positions. One
Of the Russian advanced posts was bOS1l-
barded and the Russians cleared out by 3
night attack, but the Japanese were Uu
lble to take possession.