The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-14
BOTH SIDES FIRM
 IN THEIR BELIEFS
North Sea Commission Hears
 Final Arguments
HELD PRIVATE SESSIONS
Decision Will Be Announced By Com. mission as Soon as Definite Con- cIusion Is Reached-The
 Two Contentious.

Paris. February 13-The international commission which is inquiring into the North sea incident, today heard the con- clusions of the British and Russian agents upon the testimony presented.
 The session was largely attended by members of the diplomatic corps inclua- ing Ambassador Porter and several mem bers of the Japanese legation. Many naval officers were also present. interest Ill the Inquiry being stimulated as the sessions draw toward the close. It was expected that the two agents would reach an agreement upon a number of points in- voived but the pl.adlngs showed that on the main issues they were not recon ciled.
 The British conclusion maintained that the testimony showed that no torpedo boats were present and that therefore the firing was untustmabie, whereas the Rus sian conclusion held that the testimony showed that torpedo boats were present and that the firing was fully warranted. However, the Russian statement closed with a declaration of profound regret at the fact that the innocent lives had been sacrlfieced and announced 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 Russian agent, NJ. NekieGoff, poirted out that tn British statement referred to the com ,ttl,ar governments had expressly agreed upon it's being a commission of inquiry, but not court Thereupon, the British agent, Mir. Obelrne withdrew the use of the word court The incident was taken to indicate the strict nature of the com missions inquiry.
 Summary By British.
 The British summary of acts is under four main heads:
 1. That no torpedo boats or torpedo boat destroyers were In the vicinity of the accident as shown by the declarations of the fishermen, and the official statements of various governments that no torpedo boats belonging to their fleets were in that neighborhood, and that therefore, the Russians made a mistake largely as the result of apprehension that an attack was about to occur
 | That fire was opened without suffi- cient reason, and was continued for an unreasonable time after the mistake had been detected.
 8. That no effort was made to succor the sinking ships or wounded.
 4. That not the slightest irregularity was shown in the conduct of the innocent fish ing fleet.
 The Russian summary, after setting forth the justification in three heads, concludes follows:
 .'The imperial Russian government then maintains that the fire of the Russian squadron was ordered and executed in the legitimate accomplishment of the military duties of the commander of the squadron. Consequently, no responsibility whatever Is chargeabe to Admiral Ro- jestvensky or any officers of the squad ron.
 Willing to Indemnify.
 "The imperial government sincerely de- plores that the incident resulted in inno- cent victims, and the admrals responsi- bility being eliminated, the Russian gov- ernment expresses it's readiness to make material reparation by !ndemnifying the innocent victims, deferrins the amount and partition of the indemnlties to the permanent tribunal of arbitration at The Hague"
 Today's session practically closed the work of the commission until decision Is reached, when Admiral Fournier, the president of the commission, will call a meeting for the purpose of announce ment. Ike admirals in the meantime will hold daily private sessions to deliberate upon the decision. It Is expected that some days will elarse before definite re- suits are reached