The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-26
Excuses For Rojestvensky.

I'm any event. the decision contin-
ues, the commissioners are glad to
recognize unanimously that Admiral
RoJestvensky personally did all he
could. from the commencement to the
end. to prevent the trawIers from be-
ing the object of fire by the Russian
squadron
Concerning the squadron's proceed
ing without assisting the dana ged
tTawlers. the decision saws:
THE commissioners are unanimous
Under the circumstances preceding and
following the incident, that there was
such uncertainty concerning the dam
ger TO the squadron. as to warrant
Admiral RoJestvensky in continuing
his route.
However, the majority regrets that
the admiral did not inform the neigh
boring maritime powers of what had
occurred"
The decision concludes as follows:
The commissioners declare that
their views as formulated are not of
nature to cast any disrespect upon
the military Yalor nor upon the senti-
ments of humanity of Admiral Rojest-
vensky and the personnel of his squad
ron
Scene Was Brilliant.
The closing session of the commits
sion presented a brilliant scene. The
spacious salon of the foreign office was
tIONueQ WIN prominent Ot1lCldlS. MEM
bers of the diplomatic corps, including
the Russian, British and American am
basSadOrS, members of the Japanese
legation, officers of the army and navy
judges of the highest French courts
and the wives and other relatives of
members of the commission Contrary
TO expectation the admiraIs forming
the commission did not wear full uni
forms. but appeared in ordinary civil
ian dress.
The Decision Read.
Admiral Fourier, 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 Admiral Rojestvensky's
squadron and that, therefore, his open
ing fire was not justified and as the
majority also approved the Russian
contention that Admiral ROjestvensky
acted according to his belief even
| though mistaken, and that therefore
his action did not reflect upon his mill
tary valor or sentiments of humanity
Admiral Fourier closed the commits
sion with "a speech of thanks to its
members. He said that each of them
would return to his country bearing as
u recOmpense for his abors the legiti-
mate satisfaction of duty well accom-
plished. They left behind them a pro-
found impression of esteem for the de-
votion in which the difficult task had
been . erformed.
Exchanged Compliments
A significant exchange of remarks
was made by Sir Edward Frye, repre-
| senting Great Britain and Baron
Taube, representing Russia. Both
| eulogized the arbitration. Sir Edward
| said;
This is one of the most important
events ever brought before an interna-
tional court. All should feel gratified
with the satisfactory results attained .
The speaker closed with the quota
ton: Peace hath her victories no
less renowned than war"
Rear Admiral Charles H Davis.
United States, said concerning the de-
cision.
THE conclusions seem to me to be
equitable. They are formulated i'm 2
manner to satisfy the legitimate desir-
of the two parties and mark an import
ant step in the pacific solution of in
ternational conflicts"
Praise For Fourier.
Admiral Baron Won Spaun. in be-
half of the admirals, thanked Admiral
FOurnier for his courtesy and France
for her generous hospitality, and re-
quested Admiral Fournier to express
the commissioners sense of gratitude
to President Loubet and Foreign Min
lister DeIcasse. The sitting lasted half
an hour.
Other interesting features of the de-
cision are as follows:
Admiral Rojestvensky after leav-
ing Reval took the greatest precau-
tions to prepare his vessels to repuIse
a torpedo attack during the night
whether sailing or at anchor The re-
ports OF Russian agents regarding
various torpedo boat attacks seemed
to Justify these.
THE direction the Russian SQUADRON
followed was calculated to bring the
last two divisions, as events proved. in
proximity of the customary fishing
ground of the Hull trawlers. NUMBERING
about thirty. and spreading over sew
eral miles The evidence of British
witnesses proved that the trayvlers
carried regulation lights, followed the
usual fishing rules and were directed
by their commodore by means of con-