Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-24

nation prevails here at the unprece.
dented and wanton attack on the Huh
fishing fleet - Russian warships, re-
sulting in loss Of valuable lives. We
appeal TO the government to take the
speediest and strongest measures to
ensure full redress and complete Sc.
curity against further Russian out
RACES"
Official Protest Sent.
LONDON, Oct. 24--he British gov
ernment this afternoon sent an urgent
| notice of protest to the Russian gov
ernment on the subject of the Russian
attack on the British fishing fleet in
the North Sea, through both Ambassa-
dor Hardings and the Russian Ambas.
sador at London.
story Of the Attack.
LONDON. Oct. 24.--The mate of
the trawler, Mino, which arrived at
Hull bringing news of the Russian
squadron firing on the British fishing
fleet said today:
Between 200 and 300 shots were
fired. The first vessel In line did
most Of the firing, but think two
others also fired several shots. Our
whole fleet was under searchlightb
which nearly blinded us. The Rus.
sian came within less tran a quarter
J of a mile from us"
| Captain Barker of the trawler Mag
pie declared it was impossible for the
Russians to mistake the trawlers for
torpedo boats.
"The whole affair lasted about
twenty minutes Not a quarter of the
shots could have taken eject When
the firing ceased, the ships disap-
peared as quickly as they came up"
Squadron Reaches Cherbourg.
| CHERBOuRG, Oct 24.-The ad.
vance guard OF the Russian Second
Pacific squadron consisting of torpedo
boats is in the outer harbor. The
main squadron is expected here but 1t
Is not certain that the warships will
: enter the harbor The vessels which
first arrived were not with the squad
ron when the latter fired on the Brit.
ish fishing boats. Therefore 1t Is not
! a., ..ltntv. p,,~J- -, Ia,
Of affairs.
viii Strain Diplomacy.
| LONDON, Oct. 24.-Russian Off
cials here are as much perplexed as to
the cause Of the firing on the fishing
! boats as are the British authorities,
though they suggest 1t may have been
| due to extreme nervousness conse-
quent on the reception OF definite In.
| formation that a Japanese attempt
would be made on the squadron be-
| fore 1t reached open waters. The
idea that war can arise over the affair
Is secuted but IL Is admitted It will
strain Anglo-Russian relations to a
point where diplomacy on both sides
will he severely tested.
Russia Expresses Regret
| ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 24-ft
was decided during the day to pre-
pare semi-official note expressing
the regret of The Russian government
and its Willingness to make full re-
lparation as soon as the responsibility
lis fixed. This step, showing the atti-
Itude of the government will 1t is
hoped, modify the British government
and public opinion In Great Britain
and pave the way TO diplomatic ad-
justment of the unfortunate incident
Russian Ships Reported Damaged.
PORTSMOUH, England, Oct "a
Vessels arriving at Portsmouth report
having sighted four Russian torpedo
boat destroyers and four battleships
making for Cherbourg. One of the
battleships appeared to have broken
down. here Is no confirmation of the
report OF baitieship having been
damaged.
Both Armies Intrenchina.
MUKDEN, Oct. 24.-Hotk armies
are still entrencbing short distance