The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-03-02
The RUSSIAN FLEET
was NOT JUSTIFIED.
Commission Finds 1t Not War
ranted in Firing on North
Sea Travellers.
BUT NOBODY IS BLAMED
NOBODY IS BLAMED
And the Commission Says R~ojestvensky
Wasn't in Fault in Leaving the
Damaged Boats Without
Any Attention.

Paris. Feb. 2S.-The International.
commission of inquiry into the North
sea Incident publicly announced its,
decision at the closing of the session
today. The commission finds that the
opening of fire by Admiral RojestSen-
Sky was not justified"
The decision lengthy sets forth the
circumstances and incidents and gives
the opinion of the admirals on the va
Nous in. nnlant nnints4inyolvedAlT The
deiayZofatfle Russian
transport Kamschatlsa. following a
breakdown of her machinery, was per-
Ihaps the of the incident.
The kamschatka's Troubles.
The commander of the Kamschatka
|~signalled to Admiral Rojestyensky dur
ling the evening that he had been at
tackled by torpedo boats. The admiral
therefore had reason to believe he was
attacked and gave orders for strict
vigilance against the possible approach
of torpedo boats.
The majority of the commission con-
siders that Roj~estvensky's orders We're
not excessive in time of war, particu-
larry under the circumstances. and that
he had every reason to consider the
situation Very alarming.
Was Not Satisfied.
The commission" the decision says.
Recognizes unanimously that the fish
Ing fleet committed no hostile act, a
majority of the commissioners being of
the opinion that there We're not, either
among the fishing boats or in their VI
entity, any to~rpedoboats. The opening
of fire by E~ojestyensky %as not justi-
ned
The decision further says the Russian
commissioner did not share in the lat
ter opinion. In any event. the de-
Ecision continues, the commissioners
are glad to recognize unanimously that
Rojestvensky personally did all he
could from the commencement to the
end to prevent the trawlers from being.
the object of fire by the Russian squad
ron"
Leaving the Injured.
Concerning the %squadron's proceed
Ing without assisting the damaged
trawlers, the decision says: The
commissioners are unanimous that un-
der the circumstances preceding and
following the incident there was such
uncertainty concerning the danger to
the squadron as to warrant Admiral
RojestNensky in continuing his route.
However, the majority regrets that
the admiral die not inform the neigh
boring marine powers OF what oc-
cured"
The decision concludes as follows:
Tho commissioners declare that their
views as formulated are not of q
nature to cast any disrespect upon the
military valor nor upon the sentiments
Of humanity of Admiral R~ojestvensky
and the personnel of his squadron"
Report a Conference.
Admiral Fournfer, president of the
commission, read the decision amid an
impressive silence. the spectators fol-
lowing it minutely. The general i'm
preston. among the audience was that
the decision was in the nature of a
compromise, as the majority approved
the British contention that no torpedo-
boats attacked Ro~jestvensky's squad
ron and that therefore his opening of
fire was not justified, and as a ma
jority also approved the Russian con-
tentfon that Ro~lestvensky acted ac-
cording to his belief. even though mis-
taken, and that therefore his action did
not reflect upon hi- military valor or
sentiments of humanity.t
A Significant interchange.
MI. Fournier closed the commission,
with y speech Of thanks to its mem
Fbers. A significant exchange of re-
marks was made by Sir Edward Fry,
representing Great Britain. and Baron
Iaube. representing Russia. Both spoke
lii the most amicable spirit and eulo-
lied the arbitration.