THE RUSSIAN OUTRAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN OUTRAGE

DETAILS OF THE HITCH. THE DANGER AVERTED THE BOARD OF TRADE ' INQUIRY MORE LIGHT O.N TBE'iiNCIPENT THE MYSTERIOUS TORPEDOER, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 7.59 a.m.) AReuter's St. Petersburg message state that inquiries at the British Embassy and Foreign Office show that the text of the convention is being discussed in a friendly spirit, and t-liero is no reason to apprehend that a, mutually satisfactory .arrangement will not be reached. Count Lamsdorff denies any difference with the Admiralty, and declares that both departments have accepted the draft in principle. The suggestion that the agreement will be repudiuted is untrue. Renter adds that considerable importance is attached to the suggested verbal modifications. The inference as to the blame attaching to officers is not considered in accordance with the spirit of the commission nor of Lord. Lairalnwne's words. The degree uf blamo might bo mistranslated in some quarters as tho degree of punishment. • ' Great resentment lias resulted (says the Novoe Yremya) owing to Great Britain trying to transform the inquiry into the facts into an inquiry as to culpability. OPINIONS Off NAVAL MEN. (Received Nov. 19, at 9.28 a.m.) The Times' Russian correspondents assert that while Russian naval men increasingly believe that the Russians fired on their own vessels near the Dogger Bank, there is yet a consensus of opinion that England will accept any solution in order 1o avert war. The Novoe Yremya's London correspondent declares that, leading British admirals justify Admiral Rozhdestvensky's action. THE MODIFIED AGREEMENT. THE DANGER AVERTED. LONDON, November 19. (Received Nov. 20, at 9.25 a.m.) The Novoe Vrcmya, in an inspired statement, announced that the purpose of the commission is to determine whether the parties concerned, of. whatever nationality, are blameablo and responsible for the occurroncc. The Times' Paris correspondent says it is no secret that there has been i\ serious hitch with regard to the commission, but it. appears the danger of disagreement was averted. HOW THE MASTER WAS SETTLED. THE RUSSIAN ADMIRALTY GIVES WAY. LONDON, November 19. (Received Nov. 20, at 9.39 a.m.) No official declaration has been made in connection with the reported hitch in the negotiations for the convention in connection with the commission to investigate the Dogger ll.'ink outrage, but apparently the situation is that Count Bcckendorli, the Russian Ambassador in London, communicated to Lord Lamdowne Count Lamsdorlfs acceptance of the English text of the agreement appointing the commission. The Russian Admiralty rcfifscd to communicate with Admiral Rozhdestvensky to report or authorise officers to testify unless the clause empowering tho commission to itsccrtnm the responsibility and allot the blame on officers wes deleted. A serious crisis continued for several days. Ult.i-' mutely Count Beekendorff made it. clear that if Russia receded from the engagement, which the Czar had sanctioned, Britain would take the matier into her own hands. Count Lamsdorff induced the Admiralty lo agree to a modification of the agreement, empowering the commission to determine whether the persons concerned in the incident,- of whatever nationality, deserved the blame and be held responsible, thus excluding the prima facie presumption of Russian culpability.' Tho Times says that if the enmmission only gets to work the perplexities resulting from subtle distinctions will probably disappear. THE BOARD OP TRADE INQUIRY. SOME SINGULAR EVIDENCE. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 9.28 a.m.) Costcllo, the boatswain of the (lull, staled at the Hoard of Trade inquiry that he. saw :i black mass without lights, anil mistook it for a torpedoer. He subsequently discovered that she was the Alpha, a mission boat. When he thought there were torpedwrs, he remarked to a comrade, v " There is a. tnrpwlner.'' Grossexamined : He was quite sure it was a torpedoer, but he was wot suro it was the Alpha. He was not aware of what Green had testified. Kmuke, Ihe chief engineer, said that lie heard the shuts whistle. Green exclaimed "There's a torpedoer," but he added, in almost the same breath: " No; it's a. trawler." In cross-examination witness said be heard Costello remark that witness would not. say that he had not thought he saw a torpedoer. Other cvidisnce showed' that a mysterious ship was seen on the morning of the 22nd, but she looked like an ordinary merchantman. This tends to exonerate the Russians from watching the C'rane without assisting her. MOVEMENTS OP THE BALTIC FLEET. A PROTEST FROM JAPAN. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 8.57 a.m.) The Don and Dnieper (late the Volunteer cruisers Smolensk and St. Petersburg) are among the third Baltic squadron. The Japanese assert that if the coaling facilities granted Admiral Rozhdestvensky are persisted in the responsibility of extending the area of the war rests on France's shoulders. i A Lloyd's telegram states that Admiral Rozhdestvensky has sailedi south. - THE JAPANESE TORPEDOERS. MEETING THE BALTIC FLEET. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 7.55 a.m.) Advices from Mukden state that- the Japanese torpedoer flotilla at Port Arthur has been ordered to an unknown destination, after taking on a full supply of coal. It is supposed it has gone to meet the Baltic fleet. : ' 1