Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-25
To Be Offered by Russia
to Great Britain.
Conclusion That Hull Incident
Was All a Mistake.
Urgent Note of Protest Sent from
London.

| RUSSIAN government, officially DETAILING
the circumstances of the amazing and
unexplained attack by the Russian
Second Pacific squadron during the
nlght OF Oct. Il. on British fishing boats
in the North sea. The text of the note
mas not been given out, but it is Off
clally stated from the foreign office
; that IT contains the significant an
, houhcement that the situation is one
| Wh1ch IN the opinion of His Maiestvs
government. does not brook delay"
| Meanwhile, the conservative Duhlic
and press are remarkably undemon
, strative. AS usual the lingo element
demands war, and even in official
Quarters some go so far as to say that
II may be necessary to stop the Pacific
feet pending settlement of the whole
1 aiTair., though this extreme measure it
! is believed. will not be necessary. Ev-
eryWhere there is evidence of the very
positive opinion that this is no time for
the usual diplomatic dilly-dallying:
that there must be no delay and no
limit set by Russia to her apology or
the extent OF compensation for suffer-
ers. by what the King himself terms
the understandable action" of the Bal
tic squadron commanders.
The presentment of the whole Brit
ish public, however. is reflected by the
incident at Victoria Station. tonight.
on the arrival OF Count Renkendorff
from the continent. There is no at
tempt anywhere among men of re-
spOnSibllity to magnify the occurrence
INTO Gle Hberate act of war. but. in
view of the present ina bility to find an
explanation. there is being poured up
on the heads of the officers of the
squadron a food of invective and in
situation. though incompetence first
and thereafter complete panic is the
most generally accepted explanation.
Thus far no official word has been re-
ceiveJ from st. Petersburg as to the
attitude of the Russian government.
The fact that it hal been decided dur
ing the day to prepare il semi-ofiicial
note expressing the regret of the Rus
sian government and its willingness TO
make full reparatio as soon as the
responsibility is fixed. was commune
Gated by The Associated Press to Lord
LansdCwnc end was the first informa-
ton on the subject he had received
from 81. Petersburg. The absence dur
ing the day of Count Benkendorff tn,
Russian ambassado necessarily
caused some delay. but the Russian
charge d'affaires. who called at the
foreign cree on request by note from
Lord Lansdowne. unoiicially express
cd deep regret and as far as it was
possible fO" him to 20. gave assurance
of speedy action Ey tho Russian gov
erument. Lord LansCowne, in this in
tcrvieW told M. Sans onof, the charge.
that h. desired to see Ambassador
Benkendurff, Tuesday morning. Lord
LansdOwue asked NJ. Sansonoff if he
could offer any explanation of the af-
fair. AMI the latter replied that he onlv
knew what had appeared in the papers
ard that he had not received any word
up 10 that time from ST. Petersburg.
Lord Larsdowne gave no suggestion as
to what might be done I'm the matter.
At the Russian embassy it was stated
that the whole affair was so obviously
mistake from whatever cause. the Rus
sian course was plainly dictated namely
apology and ample compcnsa ton.
All eyes are now turned towards St. Pc
terShurg. awaiting word from the Rus
sian government.
Earl Onslow. president of the board of
agI iculture. speaking in Stirlingshire, to-
night said it would be well If explana-
lions were not sought for this ''eNtraor-
binary incident until the country has had
some authentic information. The whole
affair. he said. seems so unacccurta BILE
that one could not help feeling sure there
would be an explanation of what must
have been a gigantic blunder. Earl On
slow added that the country might rely
on che thing namely, that the Emperor
of Russian, "who is known throughout
the world for his feelings of humanity,
could not fail to be depressed by such
an incident"
The actual casualties during the one
sided hoTbardment off Dogger Bank.
can be correctly stated since the arrival
NJ London this evening, of the carrying
ship Swift, reporting the safety of the
missing trawlers. The Swift left the
fleet at 10 a. m, on October %. Her /
captain says.
The Russians gave not the slightest
warning prior TO the commencement of
the firing. The admiral of the fishing
.leet sent up a rocket warning, and
then the firing commenced. He again
sent green rockets, but this only SEEM
ed to increase the ferccity Of the bonn
bardment. The poor craftsmanship of
the Russian gunners was the only
thing that saved the entire fleet within
range of the searchiights and guns"
At the inquest at Hull, today, it was
stated that one vessel the Grain, was
sunk and that four or five were
damaged. In the statement of the coro-
ner to the jury that official said 1T
was a question of very grave and pos
sibly international importance. but it
would be their duty to find who were
the n:urderers Of the dead men. After
the Identification Of the bodies. the in
Quest adjourned to November 2. i
London, Oct A.-1.23 p. M.-Foreign