The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-14
NORTH SEA INCIDENT
NO AGREEMENT REACHED BY OP-
 POSING AGENTS.
Largely Attended Session of Inter- national Commission Hears Con. clusIOns of Russia md
 Great Britain.

Paris. Feb. 13.-The International Commission which is inquiring into the North Sea Incident today heard the conclusions of the British and Russian agents upon the testimony presented. The session was largely attended by members of the diplomatic corps, in- cluding Ambassador Porter and several members of the Japanese legation. Many naval officers were alos present, interest in the inquiry being stimu- lated as the sessions drew toward the close.
 It was expected that the two agents would reach an agreement upon nun ber of points involved, but the plead ings showed that on the main issues they were not reconciled. The British conclusion maintained that the testimo- ny showed that no torpedo boats were present and that therefore the firing was unjustifiiable, whereas the Russian conclusion held that the testimony showed that torpedo boats were pre- sent and that the firing was fully war ranted However the Russian state- ment closed with a declaration of pro- found regret at the fact that the inno- cent lives had been sacrificed and an- nounced the willingness of the Russian Government to pay an indemnity to the survivors and families of the victims leaving the amount and partition of the indemnity to The Hague tribunal
 An incident occurred when the Rus sian agent. M Nekliedoff. pointed out that the British statement refers to the commission as a court, whereas the two governments had expressly agreed upon its being a commission of inquiry but not a court" Thereupon the British agent. MT. Obeirne, withdrew the use of the word of court" The incident was taken to indicate the strict nature of the commissions in- quiry.
 The British summary of acts is un- der four main heads:
 First-That no torpedo boats or tor pedo boat destroyers were in the vicinity of the incident, as shown by the declarations of the fishermen and the official statements of various gov ernments; that no torpedo boats be- longing to their fleets were in that neighborhood, and that therefore, the Russians made a mistake largely as the result of apprehension that an at tack was about to occur.
 Second-That fire was opened with out sumcient reason and was continued for an unreasonable time after the mistake had been detected.
 Thlrd-l hat no euOrt was made to succUr the sinking shlps or wounded.
 Fourth-Ihat not the slightest lrreg- ularity was shown In the conduct of the innocent nsning fleet.
 The husslan su4nndry after setting forth the justification Tn three heads, concludes as follows:
 The imperial hussian Government the maintains that the nre Ot the Hu5 sian sQudurOn was ordered and exc cuted in the legitimate accompAshmenL of the military duties of the com mander of the squadron. Consequent ly no responsibility whatever Is cnargeable against Admiral Rojest- vesnsky or any omcers of the squad ron. The imperial government sin cerely deplores that the incident re- suited in the killing and wounding of innocent victims and thereby the admirals responsibility beIng eliminated. the Russian Government expresses it's readiness to make ma terial reparation by indemnifying the innocent victims. deferring the amount and partition of the indemnities to the permanent tribunal of arbitration at The Hague"
 Today session practically closed the work of the commission until a de- cision is reached, when Admiral Four nier, the president of the commission. will call meeting for the purpose of announcement The admirals in the 1 meantime will hold daily private ses- sions to deliberate upon the decision. It is expected that some days will elapse before definite results are | reached.