The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-03
M GREAT BRITAIN.
ADMIRAL Davis Views on the Fndiu;
Of the North Sea Commission-Er-
o Committed Was Not DiSclcdit-
able to the Russian Navy.

TUT &0aitifltteu Wa NOt DI>SiStssa
able TO the Russian Navy.
Paris. February 25.-The decision
OF the International commission of IN
quiry into the North Sea incident. vas
publicly announced at the closing ses-
sion OF the commission today. The
decision at length sets forth h cir
cunlstances and incidents and gives
the opinion OF the admirais On the va
rious important points involved. The
decision says the delay OF the Russian
transport Kamschatka following the
breakdown of her machinery was
perhaps the cause OF the accident.
The commissioner OF the Kamschatka
signalied to Admiral Rojestvensky
during the evening that he n been
attacked by torpedo boats. The ac-
miraI therefore had reason to believe
he might be attacked and gave orders
for strict vigilance against The posi-
BILE attack of the torpedo.
The majority of the commission
consider that Admiral Rojestvensky's
orders were not excessive IN time NJ
w1r. under the circumstances and that
he had every cas- to consider the
situation very alarming.
The commissioners" the decision
says, recognize generally that the
fishing feet committed no hostile act.
md the majority of the commission
ers being of the opinion hat there
were not, neither among The fishing
boats nor in their vicinity any tor
pedo beats, the opening OF fire by
Admiral R~ojestvensky was not JUS
tified.~
The decision further a y the Rus
sian commissioner did not share in
the latter opinion.
"Tr any event" the decision con-
tinues, THE commissioners are glad
to recognize unanimously tha Ad-
miral RoJestvensky personally did all
he could from the commencement to
the end to prevent the trawlers from
being the object of fire by the Rus
sian squadron"
Concerning the squadron's proceed
ing without assisting the damaged
trawlers. the decision says:
The commissioners are unanimous.
under the circumstances preceding
and following the incident, h a there
vas such uncertainty concerning hat
danger to the squadron as to warrant
Admiral Rojestvensky in continuing
his route.
However, the majority regrets tieat
the admiral did not INFORM The neigh
boring maritime powers of what 4
occurred"
The decision concludes "a follows:
Tie commissioners declare that
their views as formulated are not Of Il
nature to cast any disrespect upon
the military vaIor nor upon the SEN
timents of humanity of Admiral Eo-
iestvensky and the personnel of his
squadron"
Other interesting features If the
decision are as follows:
admiral Rojestvensky leaving Pc
took the greatest precautions to
prepare his vessels to repulse a tor
redo attack during the night whether
sailing Or at anchor. The reports oc
Russian agents regarding possible az
tacks seemed to Justify these.
The evidence of british witnesses
proved hat the trawlers carried res
ulation lights followed the usual fish
ing rule and were directed by their
commodore by means of convention
al rockets.
THE leading divisions OF the squad
ron including Admiral voelkersam's
pissed the trawlers unsuspectingIy
Admiral Dojestvensky's division, the
last. noticed green flares really 4 fish
ing signal, which created alarm and
then observed a vessel topping tho
w Alro;rol o;ncfxrorclzx orIar-
ed his ships to open fire On the re.
suit of which rests his responsibility"
Admiral Fournier, president of the
commission. read the decision amid
silence, the spectators fol-
lowing infinitely. The general i'm
among the audience was that
the decision was in the nature OF a
compromise.
A significant exchange OF remarks
was made between SIR Edward Frye
representing Great Britain and Baron
representing Russia. Both
spoke in the most amicable spirit AMI
.culogized the arbitration. Admiral
Davis was seen tonight by the corre-
s%pondent OF the Associated Press. He
said the general results of the find
ings are favorable to Great Britain,
since they sustain the statement of
facts rs presented by Great Britain.
According to Admiral Davis view,
however. Russia can take a fair meas
ure of satisfaction from the findings
for although it holds that an error
was committed ft was one which not
discreditable to the Russian navy.
---A-|
jackson and His Bacon.