Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-02-27
RUSSIANS BLAMED.
The Opening Of Fire by Admiral no
jestvensky Was Not Justified

Paris Feb aG.-The decision OF the m
ternational commission 81 inquiry llN'o t'le
North sea incident was publicly dpio"!!'-
ed at tht closing session "i the 'oiii'''''
sion. saturday afternoon. -
The commission finds that the opening
of lire by Admiral koJestNensky was no.
justified oi.
cUmstanrcs and incidents ana SlNtS me
uIinion of the admrals on the various I'M
portant points involved. d.,
The decision says the delay OF me ftIS-
sian transport kamSchatka: i"howIns
the breakdown OF ntr machintrH' wis
perhaps the cause OF the lncluthl. Az,
The commander of the hamsciith't
sicnaIlcd to Admiral RojeStvcnSk: during
Ithe evening that he had bet atttckeu nE
f,an, 10 heats The admiral therefore had
,pason to believe he nigh; ht' attacked
and gave orders for S.flci \i2lIAhct
against the possible approach OF torped"
The majority of the commission conSid-
ers that Admiral RojcS,Vc"$k% orders
were not excessive in time of war partiC-
ularly under the circumstances. and that
he had every reason 10 consider me sit
uatiun very alarming.
..Tht commissioners. the decision SAYS
recognize unanimously THAI the tlshinr
ilee-r committed no hostile act, and tht.
ma jority of the commissioners being of
The opinion that there We're not. ncithc.'
among the tishiIS boats nor in their vi
CilltN. any torpedo boats, the uDpuing Of
1Ire by Admiral RojcstVtnSky was not
justified
The decision further says The Russian
commissioner did not share in The l;W ttl.
opinion.
I'm any event" dhe decision continues
the commissioners are glad Ia rcCo2niZ"
unanimously that Admiral Roitstl cnSl y
personally did all he could from the COM
ment"ment To the end to prevent the
trawlers from being the object OF fire by
the Russian squadron
concerning the Squadron'S proceeding
without assisting the damaged t..wlers.
the decision Says:
The commissioners are unanimous
that, urder the circumstances preceding
ana following the incident. there was
such uncertainty concerning Fhe uanGor.
10 dhe IuadICn as tO warrant Admiral
Ro!estrensky in continuing his route.
However. the majority of the squad
ron. mtlliding Admiral NnrIkcl Sa IN :.
passed the trawlers unsu<pcctinGly. Ad-
miral RojeStvcnsky' division. Ght la<r
nal. which Ctcat"d alarm and then oh
served vessel topping the waves. Ad-
miral Rojestvensky ordered his ships to
his responsibility
The decision concludes as follows:
The commissioners declare that their
views. as formulated. are NOT of a ma
ture to cast any disrespect upon the mil
iiarE lalor nor upon the sentiments Of
humanity OF Admiral Rojestven5ky and
the personnel of his squadron
The closing session of the commission
presented a brilliant scene. The spacious
salon of the foreign office was crowded
NhtIl prominent bIIltlaIS. me mbprS tn.
diplomatic corps. including the Russian
RrltlSh ana American ambassadors mem
bers of the Japanese legation. officers.
Judges and many wives and other rela-
tives of members of the commission The
admiralS forming the commission did moi
wear full uniforms but appeared in ordi-
nary civilian dress.
Adr>iral Fournier FranCe. the president
OF the commiSsiOn) read the decision amid
impressive silence, the spectators follow
ing it rinutcly. The general innreSsion
among the audience was THAT the decision
was in the nature of a COMPROMISE
Admiral Fournier closed the commits
sion with a speech of thanks to its mem
berS. He said they left behind them a
profound impression OF estee m for the de
vction in which the difficult task had been
performed.
a significant exchange of remarks was
made by Sir Edward Fry. representing
Great Rritain, and Baron Taube. repre-
s"nting Russia. Both spoke in the most
| amic able spirit. and eulogized the arb
| tration. Sir Edward said:
This is one of the most in?Dortan.
| events ever brought before an interna-
tional court. All should feel gratitied
with the satisfactory results attained"
The speaker closed with the uuo,ation:
Peace hath her victories no less re-
noWnfd than war;
Admiral Charles r. Davis Omitted
States said concerning the GecisIon:
The conclusions seem to me 40 be
equitable. They are formulated in man
ner to satisfy the legitimate desire of tn.
| two parties. and mark an important step
in the Pacific solution of international
conflicts"