The San Francisco call., 1904-10-27
Tension Increases in London as Time Passes WithOl
Settlement Of the Situation
Kings Warshps Held Readiness to Sail on Moments Notice
RojeStvensky's Fleet Will Be Turned Back
at the Gateway to the Mediterranean Sea

LONDON, Oct. Extension increases
as time passes without definite settle
nent OF the situation created by the
Russian blunder in the North Sea. En-
bassador Benckendorff's tentative COM
municauon 10 Foreign Minister Lans-
downe to-day, and the fact that this
was regarded as unsatisfactory, only
served TO inhame the public mind, and
while official circles are giving out in
tinations that it is their confident be-
let that the whole matter viii be salts
factorily arranged it is now quite GER
tain that only a short time viii be al
lowed Russia in which to give final and
complete assurances of her intentions
10 comply with any and all demands
Great Britain may make within reason
The arrival Of Admiral Rojestvensky
at Nigo and the certainty that he is IN
direct communication with his Govern
ment removes at once the possibility
Of any delay on account of the inability
OF Russia TO get her side of the occur
rences on the night Of October 2l- With
this official version before the Russian
Government, together with the official
statements Of the members of the fish
ing feet. it is unlikely that the British
public or the British Government will
allow another twenty-four hours to
pass quietly without receiving a salts
factory reply TO the note, which de-
manded a quick answer
Meanwhile the Admiralty is not idle.
Reports from all naval stations show
that a tremendous tate-of activity eX-
lists. This is especially true of Gibral-
tar, from which place il is announced
that some Of the best of Great Britain s
war vessels are under orders to pro-
ceed in the direction of the Russian
Baltic squadron. and that all the ships
Of the British channel fleet are ready
10 go TO sea at a moments notice.
Hitherto there has been no indication
that a time limit had been set by Great
Britain for Russia's reply to her de-
mands, but the fact that three battle
ships and three cruisers are under Or
ders for the morning of October Is is
construed in some quarters TO mean
that Great Britain viii not wait longer
than that date before unleashing her
sea dogs. while il is also evident that
the Russian cruisers and smaller boats
of the Baltic squadron may find diff
Guilty in passing the gateway to the
East unless the crisis is completely
over by the time they reach the en-
trance to the Mediterranean.
Information has reached the press
from an authoritative source that puts
a brighter light upon the situation. II
is understood that practically every
thing has been decided upon to the sat-
isfaction Of Count Lamsdorff, the Rus
sian Foreign Minister except the ques-
ton of the punishment Of the offending
officers Of the Baltic squadron. 1t is
further understood that Great Britain
is not demanding final and formal writ
ten undertakings before announcing
that she is satisfied, but that an under
taking in general terms on the part of
Russia viii be accepted as sufficient
guarantee for an official announcement
that the crisis has passed
Colonial Secretary Lyttelton, speak
ing at bennington tonight. said he
had no further information to disclose,
but that he had no doubt Russia would
make full reDaration and punish the
offenders.