The Tupelo journal., 1904-11-04
ENGLAND'S SHIPS
CLEAR FOR ACTION
Unusual Activity in All British
Dock Yards.
SITUATION GROWING BLACKER


England Not Inclined 10 Accept Ro-
jensvensky's EXPLANATION, md
vice-Admiral Beresford May
Halt the Russian Admiral.
Gibraltar, Oct. 2S.-The ships OF the
British channel fleet cleared their
decks Thursday afternoon. 1t In ru-
morea that the whole feet, with the
exception of the battIeshfp Caesar,
viii steam westward Friday morn
ing, with the alleged purpose of
making q sham attack against the
Rock of Gibraltar.
Several torpedo boats left Tangier
Thursday afternoon fully equipped.
Work at the arsenal IL proceeding
under high pressure.
A division Of the Mediterranean
fleet. comprising six battleships, all
the armored cruisers and 20 torpedo
boats il expected to arrive here Fri
day.
London, 4 p. m.--EngIand refuses
to accept Admiral ROdjestvensky's
explanation.
Russia baIks at the idea of recall
ing any of her officers culpable in
the matter.
England will not declare war, but
will inform Russia That the Baltic
heet will not be permitted to pro-
coed.
st. Petersburg, Oct. G7.--2;26 p. m.
--vice-Admiral ROjestvensky's ex-
PLANTATION of the trawler incident in
the North sea is fully as sensational
as the news of the firing upon the
fishinE feet which set all England
afame.
He declares he was attacked In
the darkness by two torpedo boats.
which came upon the squadron from
the direction of the fishing fleet.
He opened FIRE and believes he
sunk one of the torpedo boats, the
other making off for cover among
the fishermen.
Az soon as he noticed the fisher
men Admiral Ro5estvensky ceased
firing.
He proceeded on his way without
leaving any vessel behind, and says
he believes the vessel which
fishermen reported remained IN the
scene for six hours without Offering
succOr to the drowning was
other torpedo boat, either waiting
for her consert or repairing damage
addicted by the Ere of his ships.
London. Oct. 28.-One of the most
complicated diplomatic situations in re-
cent history; and one that is attended
with the most dangerous possibilities
for the peace of the whole of Europe,
now exists, with 10 sign of immediate
solution. The tension that arose when
the dispute between Great Britain and
Russia resolved itself into the simple
question whether Russia would or
would not guarantee In advance that
some punishment should be admins
tered to the offending officers of
the Baltic squadron has been mod
flied by the introduction of an
entirely new set of contentious con-
tanned in vice-Admiral Rojestvensky's
report: yet ever the most astute diplo-
mats who recognize a temporary i'm
provement in conditions are puzzled by
the complications that so c%uriously
cause it. However, there is at the m
bassies of powers not concerned in the
dispute a very strong conviction that a
way out will be found other than in
ecourSe of war.
The foreign Office, apparently as puz-
zIed as the onlookers, pursues the pol
icy of silence, and the British press is
almost totally uniformed. The vol
luminous exchanges daily occurring be-
tween London and st. Petersburg con-
tinue, the statement that no reply from
Russia has been received adding to the
implication that Russia is intentionally
ignoring the British representations.
1t is this misconception which is
chiefly responsible for the stirring UP
# a popular agitation, against which
the government may find it hard to
stand out in the possible event of For
eign Minister Lansdowle withdrawing
the demand that Russia guarantee
punishment before inquiry is insti-
tuted.
Had Admiral Rojestvensky's report
not arrived, it is probable the dispute
would have been settled one way or
the other Thursday night. It's terms,
however, are generally held to prevent
the presentation of the ultimatum
which Great Britain undoubtedly in
tended to send. Although Lord Lans-
downe has frankly said that the cir
cumstances reported by Admiral Fto-
jestvensky are to him uncomfortable,
the foreign minister is not prevented
from seeing that new light has been
thrown on the Outrage" and that
diplomatic usage now compels less
no TIE ncccMClNc