Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-06
RUSSIA APOLOGIES
TO SWEDEN FOR BREACH
IN NAVAL BATTLE
Cars Government Ex-
plains Violation of Neu-
trality in Throwing She'll
Within Restricted Sea
Area in Baltic.

PBTROGRAD, July Q.
Sweden has complained 10 the Petro
grad Foreign omce that her neutrality
was violated by the Russian squadron in
the recent naval battle Off the island Of
Gothiand, In the Baltic sea. The Rus
sian Government has expressed Its regret
and given positive assurance that Il in
tcnds to observe Swedish neutrality
strictly. In its reply to the Swedish
protest Russia attributes the fact that
shell dropped in Swedish territorial
waters to the fact that weather was
foggy and hindered accurate firing A
statement, issued BY the Foreign Office
eiin the matter today says:
81 1.-THE Swedish Minister at Petrograd
has communicated to the Imperial Gov
eminent that during Fridays battle near
tho Island Of Gathland, when Russian
ships were pursuing a German warshlp.
shell flew over the Swedish Islet OF
Oestergarn and fell in the water about
200 yards from shore
"The Minister, in the name OF his Gov
eminent. protested that such an incident
was violation of Swedish neutrality. AT
the same time the Minister Informed the
Imperial Government that steps had been
taken by the Swedish Government re-
: garding the disarning OF the German
warshp which went ashore on Gothland
md the internment of Its crew in
Sweden.
THE Imperial Government has ex-
pressed its sincere regret to the Swedish
{ Government for dropping n shell in its
territorial waters, explaining that, ac-
2 cordinB to the report OF the admiral COM
2 manding the Baltic fleet, the incident
could have been caused only by dense
d rF.r. ..,hn 10 o.
which hindered accurate firing.
"The Swedish Minister at the same time
7 received tine most positive assurances OF
the Russian intention strictly to observe
Swedish neutrality.
",rhe following facts regarding the bat
tie show that the falling of n shell In
Swedish territorial waters could only have
independent OF any ones will.
1.-THE naval fight between our cruisers
and detachment of German ships con-
sisting of a cruiser of the Augsburg type,
the light cruiser Albatross and three de-
stroyers near the Island of Gothland
hogan Friday at $40 n. m. at n distance
. Of 2s leagues from the coast
"Owng to the foggy weather, Visibility
during the fight was greatly restricted.
The dense fog sometimes hid the out
lines Of the hostile ships, hinderng ac-
curacy of fire.
''When, half an hour after the fight
began, the cruiser OF the Augsburg class,
prohtiug by its speed, fled southwark, the
torpedoboats assisting the Albatross
emitted clouds Of smoke, thus hiding the
ship which was serving as our target.
Seriously damaged, the Atbatross, to-
ward a. M, made several turns, lowered
its flag and steamed toward the coast.
Our ships guns Immediately ceased the
are.
"About this time the fog lifted some
what and the veil of smoke from the
torpedo boats, artifcally produced by
means of special appliances, was also dis
persed. This made 1t possible for our
ships to see their posltlon-six leagues
from oestergarn Lighthouse. They APP
preached no nearer during the fight
IF In the course of the battle shells
fell near shore it could only have been
a case of accidental riccochet, either
by our artillery or that of the Germans"