The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-27
Delay Of Russia in Answering
English Demands Nidens
the Growing Breach
ST, PETERSBURG SAYS NO
REPORT is YET RECEIVED
Russian Government Realizes That
England Will Not Brook Longer
DeIay-BaItic Squadron May
Have to Be Recalled.

London, October Extension increases
as time passes without a definite settle
ment of the situation created by the Rus
sian blunder in the North sea.
Ambassador Benckendorff' tentative
communication to Foreign Minister Lans-
downe today, and the fact that this was
regarded as unsatisfactory, only served
to infame the public mind and while
official circles are giving out intimatons
that it is their confident belief that the
whole matter will be satisfactorily ar
ranged, 1t Is row quite evident that only
a short time will be allowed Russia
in which to give final and complete as
surances of her intention to comply with
any and all demands Great Britain may
make within reason.
The arrival of Admiral Rojestvensky at
Vigo and The certainty that he is in di-
rect communication with his government,
removes at once the possibility of any
delay on account of the inability of Rus
sia to get this side of the occurrences of
the night of October 81. With this off
cial version before the Russian govern
ment, together with the official statement
of the members of the fishing fleet, it is
unlikely that the British public, or the
government, will allow another twenty
four hours to pass quietly without re-
ceiving a satisfactory reply to the note,
which demanded a quick answer
Admiralty Is Not Idle.
Meanwhile the admiralty is not idle.
or Iat
tremendous state of activity exists.
This is especially true of Gibralter, from
which place it is announced that some
of the best OF Great Britain's war vessels
are under orders to proceed in the direc-
ton of the Russian Baltic squadron, and
that all the ships of the British channel
feet are 'eady to go to sea at mo-
ment's notice.
Hitherto there has been no indication
that time limit had been set by Great
Britain for Russia's reply to her demands.
but the fact that three battleships and
three cruisers are under orders for the
morning of October 2S. is construed in
some quarters to mean that Great Brit
ain will not wait longer than that date
before unlashing her sea dogs, while it is
also evident that the Russian cruisers
and smaller boats OF the Baltic squadron
may find difficulty in passing the gate
way to the east, unless the crisis is COM
pletely over by the time they reach the
| entrance to the Mediterranean.
Situation Has Brighter Aspect.
Information has reached the Associated
| Press from an authoritative source that
puts a brighter light upon the situation.
| 1t is understood that practically every
| thing has been decided upon to the satis-
| faction of Count Lamsdorff, the Russian
| foreign minister, except the question OF
| the punishment of the offending officers
| of the Baltic squadron 1t is further un-
! derstood that Great Britain is eemanding
! final and formal written undertakings
| before announcing that she is satisfied
| but that an undertaking IN general terms
! on the part Of Russia will be accepted as
| sufficient guarantee for an official an
nouncement that the crisis has passed.
| Colonial Secretary Lyttleton, speaking
at bennington tonight, said he had NJ
further information to disclose, but thai
he had no doubt Russia would make full
reparation and punish the offenders. Al
the public utterances of ministers and in
| fiuential men reflect the gravity of tn,
crisis, but also the confidence that Rus
sia will give the required satisfaction.
| Premier Balfour will make a speech a
| Southampton on Friday which is antici
pated with unusual interest. Lord Sci
bourne, first lord of the admiralty, lef
London late tonight for Portsmouth t,
| give his personal attention to naval pre-
! parations there.