Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-24

damage had been done, but this, WIN MANY
other suggestions, finds little credence ana
fails to lessen the irritated maZement with
which all the officials here regard the at
fair, which was aggravated later by an al
legation made by the fishermen at the fof-
eign Office to the effect that the Russians
detached a ship from the squadron and
that she remained watching the trawlers
until o'clock on Saturday morning with
oue lowering a boat or rendering any as
sistance.
Denounced as Monstrous.
This is a most monstrous thing! A cruel
outrage" said Sir eHnry King, after he
had been with his fishermen constituents to
the foreign office. For six hours the Rus
slams left ship to watch the damage they
had occasioned without assisting the vic
tins There is no possible excuse for the
attack. The trawlers saw the squadron be
fore midnight coming on in three lines with
all their lights showing. The leeward line
which it is believed was composed of col
liers, steamed right through the fishing
fleet. When they had passed a signal flash
ed out from the leading ship of the port
division, whereupon the two lines changed
their course, bringing the trawlers on their
starboard quarter and without the slight
est warning broadside was fired The
squadron then steamed off, leaving a ship
to watch the results of the operations
Capt. Peaker of the trawler Maybe de-
clared it was impossible for the Russians
to mistake the trawlers for torpedo boats.
He added:
1.-THE whole affair lasted about twenty
have taken effect When the firing ceased
the ships disappeared as quickly as they
came up.
Of the 100 fishing vessels through which
the Russian squadron passed. five are sull
unaccounted for and some anxiety exists
regarding their safety. The Wren, one of
the boats reported last night as missing,
has arrived at Hull 1t will probably be
h. In,
full possession of all the facts although the
examination Of the witnesses at the foreign
office today established the general cor
rectness of the first accounts.
Appeal From Mayor of Hull.
The mayor of Hull has telegraphed TO
Premier Balfour as follows
1.-The greatest indignation prevails here
al the unprecedented and wanton attack
on the Hull fishing fleet by Russian war-
ships, resulting in the loss of valuable
lives. We appeal to the government to take
the speediest and strongest measures to in
sure full redress and complete security
against fur her Russian outrages."
Fired With Blank Cartridges.
The Times correspondent at Copenhagen,
telegraphs as follows:
ION Wednesday evening a telegram from
the car for Admiral Rojestvensky (of the
consular agent in the Island of Langeland.
The consular agent ordered two fishermen
in a motor launch to deliver the dispatch.
LAS they approached the admiraPs ship
searchlights were thrown on the launch
and some blank cartridges were fired. The
Russians forbade the launch to come
nearer, and sent boat to take the dis
patch.
Notification has been given that all mer
chantmen meeting the Baltic fleet must
hnt tbnir ma
schooner failed to do SO. A blank charge
was fired to hasten her performance of the
ceremony
Russia Expresses Regret.
ST. PETERSBURG, October "a, 5:54 pm.
AT the foreign Office the sinking of the
British fishing vessels is deplored. The au-
thorities manifest the greatest anxiety and
express the hope that the unfortunate af-
fair will be adjusted speedily and amicably,
while they believe some explanation which
will throw new light on the affair will be
forthcoming as soon as Admiral Rojestven
sky can communicate with st. Petersburg,
the authorities here being unable to believe
that his ships fired upon the fishing boats
without warning.
The press reports are so startling that NJ.
SaZoroff, the Russian charge daffaires in
London, in the temporary absence of AM
bassador Benkendorff. was instructed this
afternoon to express to the British govern
HeHt lne Intense regret ana RTle1 WIN
which the reports had been received and the
desire of Russia TO voluntarily make full
reparation in the event of the Russian
squadron being responsible for the unfor-
tunate occurrence, involving the loss of
human life.
In diplomatic circles the affair has Great
ed a big sensation. Strange to say it did
rot have any effect the bourse tours
closing where they did on Saturday
1t was also decided during the day to
prepare semi-official note expressing
the regret of the Russian government
and its Willingness to make full repara-
ton as soon as the responsibility is fixed
This step. showing the attitude of the
government. will, it is hoped mollify the
British government and public opinion
in Great Britain and pave the way for an
honorable diplomatic adjustment
Russian Authorities Dumfounded.
No official information from Vice Ad-
miral Roiestvensky, command of the Sec
ond Pacific squadron. or from other Rus
sian sources had reached thu authorities
here as this dispatch is written in regard
to the firing by the squadron upon British
fishing boats early Saturday morning in the
North sea. The authorities are dumb
founded by the press reports of the affair
and cannot credit the accounts as pre-
sented. For this reason the censor today
declined to allow the publication of the
foreign accounts of the affair.
The censor later allowed the publication
of the news in the form of a simple an
nouncement that the Russian squadron had
sunk two fishing smacks
Ambassador Hardinge, although momen-
tarily expecting instructions from the Brit