Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-10-27
FIRED ON FISHING BOATS.
Russian Baltic Squadron Gets Into
Serious Trouble With England.

Events in the field OF operations in
Manchuria the past week have been quite
eclipsed by an alarming episode else
where. The Russian Baltic feet, on its
way to the East, while passing a feet of
fifty British fishing boats, some 200 miles
east from Hull, in the North Sea, shortly
after midnight Friday night opened fire
on the defenseless boats, sinking the
steam trawler Crane, killing her captain
and mate and wounding others OF her
crew. Other of the fishing boats were
struck, but none Others sunk.
The night was misty, but the fishermen
plainly made out the line of battleships
aud cruisers, whose searchlights played
in all directions. The first Of the war
ships bad passed by when a gun was fired
from one Of the ships farther back.
Almost Immediately several of the Rus
sian ships took up the cannonade, until
all or nearly all had Joined in it. The
fishermen at first supposed it to be a
signal and that the charges were blank.
until their craft were riddled and the
skipper and mate OF the Crane decapitated.
Urgent efforts were made to attract the
Russians attention, but the firing con-
tinued fully 20 minutes when il suddenly
ceased and the ships disappeared in the
darkness.
The crippled fishermen made their way
to Hull, the Moulmein bringing the
bodies OF the dead men taken off before
their boat sunk. At once great indigna-
tion arose in Great Britain, which has not
yet subsidized. The attack is incompre-
hensible, except that the Russians in
their nervousness, may have mistaken the
fishing boats for dangerous torpedo
craft lying in wait for them. No ex-
PLANTATION has thus far been received from
Admiral Rojestyensky, commanding the
Baltic feet, as the feet has not made port
since the occurrence. Ii is passing the
shores of France or Spain.
The British foreign office at once made
demand on Russia for full reparation
and the punishment of the offenders.
The car has hastened to express his
deep regret, and has given assurances
that satisfactory settlement viii be made
The affair has created great tension, and
some talk is heard that 1t is not safe for
neutral nations to allow the Baltic fleet
to proceed.
The battle OF Shakhe river is over
The armies are in close touch, each hold
ing fortified points. The battle must be
regarded as a Russian defeat, inasmueh
as Kuropatkin failed in his purpose to
drive back the japanese. even giving
ground himself. His losses, too, were
probably three times as heavy as his
enemy's. The japanese report finding
and counting over 1900 Russian dead,
which indicates total loss of upwards of
10000. The japanese report their own
losses officially at 15,S79, including
killed, wounded and missing. The Jap
anese report the capture Of IS guns, 5is4
rifles and large quantities of supplies.
They lost about 20 guns TO the Russians.
In one of the final encounters, the Rus
slams made a brilliant assault on Lone
Tree hill and captured it, repulsing
several attempts to retake il.
Both armies are now resting for the
next move, neither ready TO retire, neither
prepared ~ advance. Winter is fast COM
ing on.
There Is no news from Port Arthur.