Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-20
Charges Against Russian Fleet
Are Read to Commission by
O'Beirne, British Embassy
RUSSIAN REPLIES IN ANSWER
Charges Consist of Seventeen specifi-
cations Alleging careIessness, and
Unprovoked Attack = Russia Says
Two Suspicious Torpedo Boats Were
Seen Approaching at High Speed.

Paris, JAN 2O.-Hugh O'E,eirne, of
the British embassy, agent of Great
Britain before the international COM
mission, read the charges, which con-
sist of seventeen specifications, min
utely setting forth attack on the Hull
fishing fleet. 1t was specifically de-
clared that no Japanese torpedo boats
and no warships were among the fish
ing fleet and that no Japanese war
ships were anywhere in the North Sea.
Baron Taube read the Russian reply
which specifically declared that two
strange boats approached the Russian
squadron, which the searchlights dis
closed to be torpedo boats. There
upon fire was opened, the torpedo boats
moving off and later disappearing. The
Russian statement further asserted
that Admiral Rojestvensky was abb
solutely obliged to act as he did in Or
der to destroy the torpedo boats which
had attacked his squadron.
The British Charges.
The principal charges of the British
statement follow:
"On the night in question there were
not any warships whatever in the
neighborhood of the fishing fleet, ex-
cept. those of the Russian navy.
mo warships had been seen by the
fishing boats since long time prev
ious.
None of the boats making up the
fishing fleet carried any kind of mater
ial of war.
mo Japanese warship Of any kind
was at any moment in the North
sea-
There were not any japanese upon
the fishing boats.
The Russian fire continued after
their searchlights clearly showed the
vessels were peaceful fishing boats.
"None of the Russian boats gave
or even offered assistance.
"The fire killed two men, wounded
six; sank one boat and damaged five
Others"
The statement concludes that the at
tack was without any provocation
upon Pacific fishing boats pursuing
their usual and rightful avocation.
The Russian Reply.
The following are TIE principal
points of the Russian reply:
cat about midnight the flagship
Kniaz Souvaroff saw the outlines of
two small boats which approached
with great speed with all light extin-
guished directly toward the battleship.
when the two suspicious boats
came within range Of the Russian
searchlights they were recognized as
torpedo boats Thereupon the battle
ships opened fire.
Thereafter a number of small fish
ing boats not showing the required
lights were observed. Precautionary
measures were adopted, nevertheless.
upon the battlesh1ps and the imperious
duty of protecting themselves against
the attack Of torpedo boats obliged
continuance of the fire, despite the evil
dent risks of hitting not only the fish
ing boats but also the ships of the
squadron itself which had arrived
within the zone of fire.
"In the meantime the two torpedo
boats drew off and shortly after dis
appeared. Fearing that some Of the
fishing boats were damaged, yet being
certain that all danger from the two
torpedo boats or possibly others was
not completely removed, Admiral Ro-
jestvensky considered it indispensable
for the entire squadron to continue it's
route without stopping.
Admiral Rojestvensky. while taking
into account the damage caused to in
offensive fishermen, subjects Of neu-
trail power, was nevertheless compell-
ed to use all the means in his power to
destroy the torpedo boats which at
tackled his squadron"