New-York tribune., 1905-02-03
NORTH SEA COMMISSION
Why Russian Ships Did Not GiUe
HeIp-Witness Sac Torpedo Boat.

Paris. Feb "A continuance of the cross-exam-
ination Of the Russian officers at todays session of
the international commission inquiring into the
North Sea incident developed considerable feeling
and several sharp exchanges of remarks Captain
CladO particularly criticised the hostile attitude
Of the British press. He said Vice-Admiral Ro-
iestvensky had written a private letter severely
condemning the British press. using one phrase
which Captain Clado said he considered necessary
to withhold
Baron Taube, the Russian judicial adviser re-
marked that it doubtless some strong seafar-
ing expression
Captain Clado replied:
Il viii, not say the phrase strong. but it was
bitter' "a D.
Captain sClado referred TO an alleged misstate-
ment that Russian torpedo boats remained upon
the scene without rendering aid to the trawlers.
He declared that such torpedo boats remained.
Hugh OBeirne, first secretary of the British EN-
bassy in Paris and agent of Great Britain said he
had heretofore refrained from asking a delicate
question, namely, why none of the Russian ships
remained to give assistance after knowing that
peaceful fishing boats had been struck.
Captain C!ado answered that Admiral Rojestven-
sky had fully explained that he did not consider the
injuries TO the fishing boats serious. whereas
the squadron & having Just escaped from an attack
squadron SO soon as possible from the vicinity of
Admiral Beaumont Great Brittany closely ques-
TONED the witness on who gave the order to fire
Captain Clado saying it was Admiral Rojestvensky
The lengthy examination did not appear to
terlally shake Captain Clado's statements Lieu
tenant Ellis. of the Russian battleship Alexander
H. also maintained his testimony on cross-exami-
nation
Counsel for Great Britain introduced Commander
.heane, former chief of a torpedo division and a
leading torpedo expert of the British navy He
asserted positively that mistakes frequently
made between torpedo boats and other boats main
ly because searchlights confused the ordinary cal
culation of distances, and cited the of the
British battleship Devastation which was mistaken
for torpedo boat in night evolution, and also OF
a cruiser of 11000 tons. which mistaken for
1903.
Admiral Fournier president of the commission
announced at the afternoon session that the COM
mission had decided that the statements made in
the morning relative to the British press neither
assisted in the ascertalnment of truth contrib
uted to the high purposes of the commission and
that therefore they would be stricken from the
record.
Interrogating Commander Keane Admiral Four
nter asked Wether it would be possible mistake
a battleship for a torpedo boat when boat of the
dimensions of q traWler alongside.
Certainly not" replied the witness.
Admiral FOurnier considered the point interesting
stating that such was the position of Russians who
had observed the torpedo boats with trawlers along
had been there it could not have been mistaken for
q torpedo boat.
Admiral Doubassoff. saying the question was i'm
portant asked Lieutenant Schramtchenko, torpedo
impression on board his ship when il was an
nounced that torpedo boats were pursuing the
Kamchatka.
The witness said "Our sIIppositions regarding the
possibility Of a torpedo attack were realized"
The mate Of the Norwegian vessel Adela, named
Christensen, swore that he torpedo boat
in the North Sea on September 19, and that on the
following day he a similar vessel without
lights sailing at great speed in the vicinity where
trawIers crossed. The witness uncertain
whether the second vessel was a torpedo boat.