CAUSE OF THE OUTRAGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1904, Page 5

CAUSE OF THE OUTRAGE.

• ■ VARIOUS OPINIONS. A WARNING FROM GERMANY. DEMORALISED OFFICERS. (Received October 27, 8.44 a.m.) LONDON, 26th October. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Echo de Paris says Germany, wishing to appear only as friend, lepeatedly warned the Russian Admiralty of the possibility of an attack in the North. Sea, and the warnings drove the officers off their heads. ALLEGED BRITISH IMPRUDENCE. RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDING. {Received October 27, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, 26th October. The Sviet declares that the affair was the result of British imprudence. Another Russian journal says that part of the fault rests with Britain in not warning the fishermen of the squadron's approach. Many English newspapers, including Radical journals, are astounded at the Russian representations and misunderstanding. Some bluntly declare that the Admiral was drunk or acted deliberately. A SERIOUS SUGGESTION.. OUTRAGE DELIBERATELY PERPETRATED. LONDON, 26th October. A special correspondent of The Times, after a minute examination of the injured vessels and questioning the captains, expresses the confident opinion that the* outrage was deliberately perpetrated with a knowledge that it; was directed against iEnglish fishermen. LORD LANSDOWNE'S OPINION. LONDON, 26th October. Lord Lansdowne, British Minister of Foreign Affairs, supposes the Russians "mistook the trawlers for Japanese, or were getting their hands in." MURDEROUS INTENTION OR WICKED NEGLIGENCE. LONDON, 26th October. The Hon. A. Lyttelton, Colouial Secretary, speaking at Leamington, declared that the outrage was either the result of murderous intention or wicked negligence. While demanding prompt reparation, the Government gave the Russian Government credit for willingness to make a ready disavowal of the warships' act. AN INEXCUSABLE BLUNDER. LONDON, 26th October. The Earl of Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty, speaking at a dinner given to the officers of the visiting American fleet at Gravesend, said, referring to the outrage by the Baltic fleet, if it were conceivable to suppose that British or American warships could commit such an inexcusable and terrible blunder, he was confident they would have immediately and amply apologised and offered reparation. "Doubtless," added Lord Selborne, "the Tsar and the Russian nation will feel the same." CONTINENTAL PRESS COMMENTS. (Received. October 27, 8.40 a.m.) v LONDON, 26th October. The Japanese press is indigifant at the Russian inhumanity. The papers describe the outrage as the crowning act of violation of the rights of neutrals. The French newspapers hold that the British demands are- strictly \n conformity with diplomatic usage. Russia, they assert, must yield, and the sooner she admits the fault the better it will be. Other French journals are staggered at the conduct of the fleet. The German press admits there is no shadow of an excuse for the Russians neglecting to assist the trawlers. FRENCH FSSHERMEN AFRAID TO VENTURE OUT. (Received October 27, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, 261h October. Cherbourg fishermen are afraid to venture out to sea.