The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-03-03
the RUSSIAN FLEET
WAS NOT JUSTIFIED
-
Commission Finds 1t Not War
ranted in Firing on North
Sea Trawlers.
GUT NOBODY is BLAMED
And the Commission Says Rojestvensky
Wasn't in Fault in Leaving the
Damaged Boats Without
Any Attention.

Paris, Feb. 2S.-The international
commission of inquiry into the North
sea inoldeut publicly announced its
decision at The closing of the session
today. The commission finds that the
opening OF fire by Admiral Rojestven-
sky was not justified
The decision lengthy sets forth the
circumstances and incidents and gives
the opinion OF the admirals on the Va
ir1ous important points involved. The
decision a the delay of the Russian
transport kamschatka, following a
breakdown of her machinery, Mas per-
haps the cause of the incident.
The k~amschatka's Troubles.
The commander of the kamschatNa
Signalled TO Admiral R~ojestNenskN dur
ing the evening hat 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 Ro~jeStNenskN's orders We're
not excessive in time of wal, particu-
larly under the circumstances and that
he had every reason 10 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
i tIltI tI llN " tIle 'oliIliilSSi IltI DttilS "
the opinion that there were not. either
among the fishing boats or in their vi
entity, amy t~orpedoboatS. The opening
of fire by I~2ojestvensky was not justi-
fed"
The decision further says the Russian
commissioner did not share i'll the lat
ter opinion. I'm any event the de-
cision continues, the commissioners
are glad to recognize unanimously that
Roiestvensky personally did all he
could from The commencement to the
end 10 prevent the trawlels from being
the object of fire by the Russian squad
ron
Leaving the Injured.
Concerning the s%quadron's proceed
Ing Without assisting the damaged
traWlers. the decision says: The
commissioners are unanimous that UNI
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 did not inform the neigh
boring marine powers of what oc-
curred."
The decision concludes as follows:
The commissioners declare that their
views as formulated are not of a
nature to cast any disrespect upon the
military valor nor upo the sentiments
OF humanity OF Admiral RoJeStNenSky
and the personnel of his squadron"
Report a Conference.
Admiral Fournier. president of the
commission. read the decision amid am
impressive silence. the spectators fol
lowing it minutely. The general inn
preston among the audience was thai
the decision was in the nature of a
compounds, as the majority approved
the British contention that no torpedo
boats attacked Rojestvensky's squad
ron and that therefore his opening OF
fire was not justified, and as a ma
jority also approved the Russian con
tention that Roiestvensky acted ac-
cording to his belief. even though mis-.
taken. and that therefore his action DID
not reflect upo hi military valor OF
sentiments of humanity.
A Significant Interchange.
Mr.. Fourier closed the commission
with n speech of thanks to its mem.
bers. a significant exchange of re.
marks Was made by Sir Edward Fry
representing Great Britain, and Baron
Taube, representing Russia. Both spok.
IN the most amicable spirit and eulo
tized the arbitration.