The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-25

stated that the whole affair was so
obviously a mistake, from whatever
cause that Russia's course was plain
ly dictated. namely, apology and am
pie compensation"
All eyes are now turned towards st.
Petersburg. awaiting word from the
Russian government.
RUssia's Poor Gunners.
The actual casualties during the
one-sided bombardment off Dogger
Bank can be correctly stated since
the arrival at London this evening
Of the carrying-ship Swift, reporting
the safety of the missing trawlers.
Fhe Swift left the fleet at 10 O'Clock
on the morning of Oct %. Her cap
tain says
"The Russians gave not the slight
est warning prior to the commence
ment of the firing. The admiral of
the fishing fleet sent up a rocket warn
ing, and then the firing commenced.
He again sent up four green rockets,
but this only seemed to increase the
ferocity of the bombardment. The
poor craftsmanship of the Russian
gunners was the only thing that saved
the entire fleet within range of the
searchlights and guns"
AT the inquest at Hull to-day it
was stated that one vessel the Crane.
was sunk, and that four or five were
more or less damaged. In the state
ment of the coroner to the jury that
official said it was a question of very
grave and possibly International inn
portance; but it would be their duty
to find who were the murderers of the
dead men. After the identification of
the bodies the inquest adjourned to
Nov. q
Naval Forces Ready.
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, who
is with the Channel fleet at Gibraltar.
almost in the path of the Russian
squadron, may be ordered to detach a
cruiser and communicate with Admiral
Rojestvensky, as was done in the case
of the Russian volunteer fleet steam
ers Smolensk and St. Petersburg.
Unusual activity prevailed at the ad-
miralty throughout the morning, but
owing to the absence of Lord Selborne,
First Lord of the admiralty, no ac-
ton was taken. A strong squadron of
cruisers lies at Portsmouth ready to
sail at a few hours notice. The Medi-
terl'anean fleet is off Venice and the
home squadron is cruising off Scotland.
Thus in the quite unlikely event of
Great Britain making a naval demon
good positions.
Sir Henry King, member of Parlia-
ment for the central division of Hull,
went to the foreign office to-day to
assist in the representations of his con-
stituents, among whom the most bit
ter feeling prevails.
The mate of the trawler Mino, which
arrived at Hull with the Moulmein,
bringing the news of the firing on the
fishing boats, said to-day:
Over 200 Shots Fired.
Between 200 and 300 shots were fir
ON' AAlS lAAoL NCooSl III llllC ulO llOSl
Of the firing, but l think two others
also fired several shots. Our whole
fleet was under searchlights, which
nearly blinded US. The Russians came
within less than quarter of a mile
from us. We could see them plainly"
Capt. Peaker of the trawler Magpie
declared it was impossible for the Rus
slams to mistake the trawlers for tor
pedo boats. He added:
THE whole affair lasted about twen-
ty minutes. Not a quarter of their
shots could have taken effect. When
the firing ceased the ships disappeared
as quickly as they came up. Every
sailor knows that this part of the sea
is a fishing ground, and no one could
have mistaken our fleet with it's special
lights as signals"
The officials of the admiralty say the
captain of the Magpie did not exag-
gerate the situation in the statement
he made yesterday. What is puzzling
them most is that the Russian tor
pedo boats did not board nor approach
within hailing distance of one of the
trawling fleet. At the Russian embas-
sy it was suggested that the Russian
squadron steamed away, believing that
no damage had been done. but this,
with many other suggestions, finds lit
tie credence, and fails to lessen the ir-
ritated amazement with which all per-
sons here regard the affair, which was
aggravated later by an allegation made
by the fishermen at the Foreign Of
fee to the effect that the Russian de-
tached ship from the squadron and
that she remained watching the traw-
lers until o'clock on Saturday MORN
ing, without lowering a boat or render
ing any assistance.
GREAT CROWD H00TED