The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-11-03
WANT0N ATTACK
BY Baltic fleet
RUSSIAN WARSHIPS FIRE ON
ENGLISH FISHING VESSELS
IN THE NORTH SEA.
One Is Sunk, Others Damaged and
Two Men Killed-Great Britain De-
mands Satisfaction-Court Of In
quiry to Fix Responsibility.

Hull, Eng, Oct. Z4.-A. M. Jachson
& Co., solicitors for the owners Of so
Hull fishing boats, have notified the for
eign Office and admiralty Of an attack
on the Hull fishing fleet by the Russian
Pacific fleet Commonly designated as
the Baltic squadron). The official in
formation is that shortly after midnight
Friday the Russian squadron fell in
with the Hull fishing fleet in the North
sea. The first portion of the fishing
feet turned their search-lights on the
British vessels for some time and lit
tie later opened fire. The steam trawler
Crane was sunk, and the decapltated
bodies of her skipper and mate have
been brought to Hull. The steam traw-
lers Molmein and Mino have arrived at
Hull seriously damaged by shots, the
latter having 16 holes in her hull. 1t Is
feared that other damage was done to
trawlers and that at least one more was
lost with all hands.
Two Beheaded.
The Moulmein arrived with her nag
at half mast. Her skipper states that
the trawlers were fishing about 220 miles
east by north of Spurn Head at one
o'clock Saturday morning, the weather
being hazy, when the outlines of several
vessels, apparently warships Ealing in
a line, were dimly seen. Whilst the
crew were watching the vessels search
lights were flashed upon them, in the
glare of which the Moulmein's crew OBJ
served what they took to be torpedo
boats approaching, apparently with the
intention of boarding the Moulmein.
They steamed away, however, and soon
the fishermen were Mortified to find they
were being fired upon. First one and
then another trawler was struck by fly
ing shot What seemed to be round
shot went through the Moulmein galley.
The Mino, lying near by, also was struck
with many shots, but fortunately the
damage was above her. waterline and
none of her crew was struck.
The bombardment lasted about 20
minutes. When it had ceased the fleet
sailed southwark, and some of the traw-
lers sent up rockets. The Moulmeln
steered in the direction of the rockets.
Soon cries were heard, and the Crane
was found sinking with another trawler
taking off some of her crew. Those seri-
ously injured were removed to mission
ship and the bodies of Smith and Leg
gott were placed aboard the Moulmein.
The other men with minor injuries were
put aboard the trawler Sea Gull, which
at late hour had not arrived at Hull.
No motive can be assigned for the ex-
traordinary procedure Of the Russian
warships.
Explanation Demanded.
London, Oct. 25.-Great Britain on
Monday sent long and urgent note
to the Russian government, officially
detailing the circumstances of the
amazing and unexplained attack by
the Russian Pacific squadron during
the night of October 81, on British fish
ing boats in the North sea.
The government shows moderation
in the note which Sir Charles Hard
inge presented to Foreign Minister
Lamsdorff Tuesday afternoon. While
it awaits explanation for an act which
is characterized in strong language as
unjustifiable, deliberate and inhuman,
it makes no threats, fixes no time
limit for response, and contains no de-
mands, the note specifically stating
that Great Britain's demands are re-
served pending receipt of an explana-
ton.
Admiral Offers Explanation.
London, Oct. 27.-There is an accen-
tuation of feeling in Great Britain over
the delay of the Russian government in
procuring from the commander of the
Baltic squadron his version of the at
tack on the Hull fishing fleet. Admiral
Rojestvensky, who is at Vigo, Spain,
has, so far as the public is informed,
made no official explanation of the
events of the night of October 81, but
in an interview he has put forward the
statement that two torpedo boats, pre-
sumably Japanese craft, appeared
among his ships off Dogger bank and,
failing to comply with demand to re-
tire or state their nationality, were
fred upon.
Six of the best ships of the British
channel fleet are under orders to sail
presumably to shadow the further
movements of the Russian warships
sailing for the Cape of Good Hope, and
all the other vessels of the channel
feet are ready to put to sea at mo-
ment's notice.
War Is Averted.
London, Oct 29.-All danger of war
between Russia and Great Britain has
been averted, and the settlement of
the only points in dispute regarding
the attack by the Russian second Pa
cific squadron on British trawlers Oc-
tober 81 has been referred to an in
ternational commission under The
Hague convention. Details of the
agreement were supplied by Premier
Balfour in a speech delivered before
the national union of conservative
clubs at Southampton Friday night.
''The Russian ambassador" said Mr..
Balfour, "has authorized statement
to the following effect: The Russian
government, on hearing of the North
sea incident, at once expressed its
profound regret, and also promised
most liberal compensation. The gov
eminent has ordered the detention at
Vigo Of that part of the feet which
was concerned in the incident, in order
that the naval authorities might ascer-