Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 4 November 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL. ♦ The telegrams of to-day relating to the recent " operations " of the Baltic fleet are deeply interesting, but do not indicate any new development. In Ministerial circles in London it is contended with some reason that as Russia is upon her defence it is not incumbent upon Britain to dictate as to the number of Russian witnesses, and that after selection of those witnesses Britain would not have been justified in detaining the Baltic fleet, and hindering its mission in a wai in regard to ivhich she must be careful to observe neutrality. On the other hand, the foreign press is the .reverse of complimentary. Germany obviously desires to widen the breach between the parties. Japanese newspapers are surprised at England's alacrity in acceptiag the present situation, while the American pjress asks what guarantee England possesses that the Russian officers concerned in the outrage will be punished. These same officers at Paris, on their way to St. Petersburg, have declared absolutely that they fired on Japanese torpedoers, and consider it impossible that the arbitrators can accept the testimony of the fishermen against the' word of the Russian Admiral and his officeis. Evidently there will be direct conflict of evidence, and the finding of the Court will be •awaited frith both interest «nd anxie^". I