THE BALTIC FLEET OUTRAGE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1133, 31 October 1904, Page 2

THE BALTIC FLEET OUTRAGE

Prolille Msfastory Settlement I'll* latter top to Court of Itipry 'Speech bf tlie British Premier Salfour Ovateil by Southampton multitude Irish lotion Endorsed by the World The Baltic Fleet Bottled at Vigo iaiiour Patrolled by British Warship ?r«M Aiioci»tio».—OoDjrigDt.

(Reci'ivcil Oct, 30th, 0.22 a.m.) London, October 29 Mil lULFOUK, addressin" a great m;\SH mi'iitiiij/ at Southampton, said ho believed Hint the lamentable tragedy would not lead to war, but lM'lli<ierents mnst never be allowed lo forget their ilmii'S towards neutrals. The Russian Admiral's version contained much romance, and was equivalent, to an attack on our national honour as neutrals.

ships, because experts allege thrt tb e nearest Japanese warships are fourteen thousand miles away, and because, if torpedoers were in ih North Sea, the admiral believes we were providing them with a base. "Unless he suspects France and Holland, that is pure fancy, necessitating an emphatic protest. "As soon as the tragedy was known Russia expressed deep regret, and promised compensation, and indicated that any of the wrong doors ought to be punished. Then a special difficulty arose in the fact that the witnesses were vanishing from Europe, and would soon be beyond the control of the National or International Court.

Hi' promised liberal compensation to those who had suffered by the attack.

Tlie part, of the Baltic fleet '•oitceriiivl in the incident, would be iMaimvl at Vigo in ordor that the naval authorities would be able to ascertain which of the officers were responsible,

"That difficulty was overcome; and then another arose, the admirals holding the theory of the rights and duties of a belligerent fleet, which made the high seas a public danger to peaceful neutrals,

Tlicreforo, these and any material witnesses would not accompany the licet to the Far Mast.

Mr Ualfour proceeded : "We and tin.' Russians have agreed to an international commission under the liable Tribunal,

"Any fleet animated by such a policy ought to be banted out of existence if civilised commerce was to be able to pursue its way unimpeded,"

"In reference to the presence of Japanese torpodoers, 1 might men. tion that they were phantom ships and creatures of pure fancy, and against the Admiral's statement I enter a most emphatic protest."

Mr Balfour praised the far sighlei wisdom of tho Czar,

After a day's deep anxiety, when the Government had nearly contemplated the extreme possibility of war, Mr Halfour said he was glad to be bo to announce a settlement of all the differences on terms alike hononrble to both.

There would bo throe inquiries—the coroner's, the Board of Trade's, ami the International Court.

He added that M. Uenckondorfl, Russian Minister in London, had authorised an announcement that Russia had expressed profound regret on discovery of the facts, and that any person found guilty by the tribunal would be thereafter tried and punished adequately, A guarantee had now been given against a recurrence of the incident.

_ He added: "If the international inquiry shows very heavy blame, those responsible will be dnly punished.

'•The British demands do not go beyond what the highest interna, tional morality demands. Had the Government asked for less their countrymen might have complained that {he honour of the nationwas not safe in the Government's hands.

(Received Oct. 29, 4.47 p.m.)

London', October 29

Mr I'alfoui' received a tremendous ovation when lie announced that the prospects of settlement were wholly favourable.

THE TOBPEDOEB YARN

It had been impossible to make such a statement the previous ovo-

Till Monday the neutrals had never dreamt they were liable to attack whilo engaged in their peaceful avocations, under tho circumstances rendering resistance impossible. It was ludicrous, if such an incident were possible, that the belliger. ent llect, against which all the neutrals wore bound to combine, was allowed to pass. Whilo the horrified and startled lishermcn born the news of the tragedy to Hull, the Russians went on silently, without sign, till four days later, when the Admiral's vorsion was received.

A JAP DENIAL Pr«m Annotation."topjriirn. London, Oct. 29 It is officially declared at Mio that tho Japanese neither purchased nor orderod a singlo torpedoorfcom England during tho war, Tho presence of torpedoois among a fishing fleet is denied and ridiculed. THE DEFENCE OF GIBRALTAR ENTRANCES CLOSED NIGHTLY BALTIC FLEET STaYS AT VIGO ■*im» iMoolatian,—Uopjriiiii. (Received Oot 30th, 0,47 a.m.) London, October 30 Tho ontrances to Gibraltar aro closed nighty by boom defences, A hundred and ton torpedoors wore ordored on Thursday to assemble at Port; land, Gibraltar. It is officially anuouncod that Russia has requested permission for ihe warships anohored at Vigo to remain until tho onquiry ob ondod, and that Spain, aftor consulting her foroigu ropresontativos, has approved,

Tin; Ushormcn'a statement conlainoil much of tragedy and no romance) ; and though the two voi'sions woro absolutely contradictory, it was impossible lo doubt which was substantially correct. When this matter was under enquiry he ordinarily would not attempt to prejudice the case, only the admiral had attacked our national honour by implying that Britain wiih not doing her duty as a neutral, though really she was scrupulously performing it, Speaking with intense feeling and merciless irony, Mr Balfour re. counted theconllicting stories of the admiral. He had claimed to have sunk one torpadoor and injured another, but what became of the laltur? Hy what provision could a hostile loipedoer know the Russians would go thirty miles out of their course when their own regulations indicated that Dogger Bank was crowded with Oshormen of all nationalities (?) Was it possible that the Japanese would lio in wait at a spot where publicity was inevitable? Ho continued: " I publicly expresalny disbelief in thtse phantom i

STOCK EXCHANGE HEALTHIER OPINIONS OP THE PAPERS TACT OF KING EDWARD THE CZAR AND INCOMPETENT NAVIGATION (Van A««noj»f.inn.-noi)jrighl. (Roccivod Oct. 29th, 9.22 a.m.) London, Ootobor 29 Consols are quoted at 87?,. Tho agreement with Russia ponding tho final sotilemont has givon lively satisfsc* tion iu Hull, Th<) Standard's New York and Paris oorrespondonts show that tho crodit of solution of tho question is attributed i largely to Edward's rofluonco and firmness, and his tact in placing law abovo arms, being conscious of the justice of the cause. German opinion eulogises Britain's moderation And calm confidence.

The Standard nevertheless declares ibat tho compromise is profoundly disappoint/ ing, nud protests vehcuiontly against the justly aggriovod party unci tho aggressor going to au international and mainly foreigh tribunal on a footing of equality or tho punishment of the guilty. Tho Czar has given instructions to prevont catastrophes, but incompetent navigation is not controllable till the fleet is a thousand m'les distant. The Times says thai Mr. Mour's announcement will be received by tho whole Empire and civilised world with deep relief and oarncst approval. Tho Daily News and Telegraph are equally congratulatory. The Post says tho natural conclusion is that Mr, Balfour's promise of action ft.ro debarred,

SPEECH BY LORD ROBEBERY THE MADNESS OF FRIENDLY NATIONS NEW CODE OF HONOUR NECESSARY Press Association.—Copyright. (Deeeivod October Hist, 8.29 a rc .) London, Oct, 80 Lora Rosobcry, spoiling a'. Trowbridge, congratulated tho King, the Government ,» and tho country upon tho dispersion of the ' black cloud rosing above the pcaco of the world, , Anally he had not behoved that war would eventuato from so ono-sided a conjtroversy, The madness of ftiondly nations was incalculable. With nations thewik of apology and reparation was slow, and there would be no adequate ae» curity (or tho peaeeol the world until tho same codo of honour provailed in public as in private, and Governments wore not <isb.au.io J to acknowledge a wrong, with the prompt Jspontanicly of gontlomen, Tho resolution moved by the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth by Mr, Reid, and seconded by Mr. ffatsen, was typical of a message of equal fervour which would luvvo beon rocoived from Canada and South Africa had their Parliaments boon sitting. Ibis was a proof of what clear and spontaneous loyalty was possible under their present constitution.

MIXED FEELING IN RUSSIA BRITISH CRUISER AT VIGO PATROLLING HARBOUR EN* TRANCE RUSSIAN ADMIJKAL INTERVIEWED SAYS THE FLEET SAW MINES CARES NOT FOR BRITISH WAR- 4 SHIPS ''■•»»» *Mooi»tion.—uapjritkt. (Received, Oct. 31, 8.55 a.m.) London, Oct. 30 Admiral Roshjostyonski's report was received nt S;, Petersburg with a chorus of approval mingled with an outburst of abuse against England. It is popularly considered that aftor their exeossivo blustoriug J,he British Govcrn-N " msnt have practically submitted to Russia's wisbos. The higher ollioials consider that Britain scores by detaining tho fleet.

It is gcntrnlly thought in Amorica and on ilio Contincuc that Britain has treated Russia generously. Tho ctuisor Doris has sailed from Gibraltar for Lirach, Morocco. The cruiser Lancaster arrived at Vigo at full spool, and iho eoimnandor interviewed Admiral liogbjostvenski and tho Spanish authorities. Tho Lancaster is now patrolling the entrance of the harbour, Five British warships aro outsido Cies Islands. Interviewed by tho Olnoniclo'a Vigo ropi'oscntntive, Admiral Roglijostvenski statas that tho cruiser Aurora saw two torpodoers approaching at full spcecd. Sho turned on tho soarch lights and uo< ticed two Homing mines close by. An order to firo was given, and one o, tho torpodoers was sunk. Ho know thai a secret alliance existed between Japan and Britain. Thoro wero a thousand reasons for tho conflict. ! Personally, ho >tas disposed to lay down his life for tho Hoet, and did not beed tho number of opponents. French merchantmen aro olf Cies Islands. It is reported tlioy have submarine uiinos aboard, RUSSIAN WARSHIPS AT TANGIER Pr«u i«iniucia».—L'ODjrtffci. g (Received October 31,9.28 a.m.) London, Oct, 80 bix Russian battlosliips and cruisers, soven torpedoors. a:id four colliers havo arrived at Tangier,