THE NORTH SEA BLUNDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7827, 21 June 1909, Page 3

THE NORTH SEA BLUNDER.

Per Press Association —Copyright. Received June 21, 8.15 a.m. -"-- — ST.-.PETERSBURG, June 20. The Russians concerned blame the Woodburn's Finnish pilot for failing to pass outside the squadron, anchored inshore, and thus infringing the regulation. , The NovO' Vremga states that the torpedoer acted m conformity with the" law and her instructions. Reuter states that the Czar sent the injured fireman twenty pounds. LONDON, June 20. The Daily News says that nobody aboard the Woe-dbiim spoke Russian, and were unable to understand the shouts summoning her to heave-to. Received June 22, 11.45 a.m.. ST. PETERSBURG, June 20, The Russian Admiralty declares that the British. Board of Trade's Notices to Mariners, published m January and April, contained a translation of the regulations applying to merchantmen approaching naval anchorages, m the Finnish skerries. It adds that the Woodburn entered the guarded zone, and disregarded three blank shots.. (The previous message read as follows: LONDON, June 18. The strict precautions to guard the Czar during his cruise led U> an .unfortunate incident on Wednesday night m the vicinity of Bjorko. A Russian torpedo boat fired a blank cartridge on the Britfeh cargo steamer Woodburn, Captain Robertson, from Friedrichshamn for Helsingfors. Five seconds later two shells were fired. Some of the Woodburn's steam pipes were damaged, and the bulwarks and stokehold casing were holed. A fireman named Boyne was badly wounded m the leg, and seas -sent to Viborg Hospital. The WoedMrn lifld a pilot aboard. It is surmised m London official circles that the warship? were instructed to prevent vessels approaching too . closely to the squadrons. The newspapers are of opinion that Russian sailors, owing to the strain of watching, were seized with an attack of nerves. One telegram reports that beside* Boyne three men were slightly vrounded.) .