OUTRAGE BY THE RUSSIAN FLEET

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 31

OUTRAGE BY THE RUSSIAN FLEET

UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION BY

EUROPE.

PERIOD OF ANXIOUS SUSPENSE.

• A WELCOME RELIEF.

(Ftou Oue Own Cokrespoxdent.)

LONDON, October 29.

"One little week!" How much may happ&n in those seven days! Last Saturday all was calm ancl serene in the international firmament — so far,, at anyrate, as England was concerned. To-day

But - it did not take -a week or anything like that time to bring about as stupendous a change in the political sky as" has ever startled and horrified the world. A single night sufficed to bring us face to" face with the most momentous crisis that the present generation has ever known — I might even say the present or past generation, for the crisis" of the early fifties was but a small affair as compared with the Armageddon on*, whose brink we are hovering at the time of writing.

I need not recapitulate the deplorable stoi'y of the North Sea outrage. That has been so well and fully told by cable that little is left to be done in the way of supplement. Briefly, as all the world knows, during the dark hours of laet Saturday morning the Russian Baltic fleet passing through the North Sea, but 30 miles off its proper course, suddenly steamed into the midst of a flotilla , oi peaceful and unarmed British fishermen, opened fire upon them after turning the searchlights fbll on, continued for 20 minutes firing upon these unarmed men engaged in their' lawful work, sank two vessels and killed two y men, and then coolly departed without inquiring whether any aid were •needed by those whom these " brave " Russians had so wantonly and murderously attacked. So gross an outrage, so vile an insult, has surely never before been inflicted upon Britain in her own seas!

" 'Twas on Trafalgar Day " of all others that this monstrous outrage was committed. It did not become known in London until the Monday morning papers came out, but then, at a single stroke, every other subject of interest was swept clean away from the public mind. The whole nation,' as one man, and as in a moment, became possessed with a spirit of stern resolution that such an atrocity must be instantly -avenged atall costs and unless it should be" most amply .atoned and apologised for by Russia. There was no " mafficking " or anything like a public demonstration, with one regrettable exception — a few disreputable blackguards hooting the Russian Ambassador on his arrival in London on his hurried return from a. holiday visit to Germany. That, however, was a wholly isolated case, and the public attitude in all other respects and instances was most strictly correct and entirely dignified. Perhaps this tone was enhanced by the all-pre-valent consciousness that in the present | case a real "crisis" had been reached— I one which might involve the interests of every man, woman, and* child in the Empire, and affect the Empire itself for generations yet to come; and, secondly, that there was no possible escape from war, save through adequate concessions on the part of Russia. Everybody felt that the time had come when England must strike with her force and fir 6of old, and that no possible consideration of private or public interest, commercial or otherwise, could be -allowed to stand for one moment in the way of the sternest measures toward calling Russia to a full reckoning. Not a needless moment was lost in demanding satisfaction from Russia. The demand was couched in studiously courteous diplomatic language, but its firmness ancl intention were self-evident. Russia was made to realise that there was not this time any loophole for escape from the consequences of her lawless act, or for the practice of her usual arts of evasion. She was, as the Americans happily put it, "Right up against it," and had to yield or fight. •For ifc was speedily made clear to the most obtuse Muscovite perception that Rtissia had to face- the solid and luianimous deter- ; miuation of the whole British Empire, ancl the absolute consensus of European and Asiatic opinion as well. King Edward himself was prompt in sending a telegram of sympathy with the sufferers, including the wives and families of the murdered men, and ia heading a aubscvigtion with 200

guineas a fund to be raised for their benefit. In that telegram his Majesty characterised the proceedings of the Russian fleet as "unwarrantable" — the strongest term" whose employment was permitted by royal etiquette. But other Englishmen who could speak more freely placed no bounds on the strength of the expressions they used. The action of the Russian offioers was justly characterised not only as murder of the foulest and most cold-blooded description, but also as being due to unmitigated cowardice — sheer funk, — if not to intoxication as well. •

Abundant evidence, was forthcoming to show that when the Baliie fleet started its officers and men were undisguisedly under the influence of the most abject terror. They had been led to believe— largely, it is said, through the friendly efforts of Germany — that the Japanese, with English connivan«e, had secretly despatched a fleet of torpedo vessels to intercept and destroy the Baltic squadron before it should have proceeded far on its way to the Pacific. Under the influence of this overwhelming terror orders were given to fire at any craft of whatever description that should approach at all near to the Russian fleet. Even had the actual proceedings gone no further than this, the case would have been bad enough. But what actually happened was infinitely worse. The Russian fleet, when it steered deliberately into the flotilla of peaceful English fishing-vessels and opened a murderous fire upon them, had deviated from its proper course by more than 30 miles.

Simultaneously with the transmission of the demand from Russia for satisfaction immediate and most vigorous steps were taken to prepare for the worst. The early occurrence of a crisis such as the present one has long been regarded by the Government as only too probable in view of the sinister premonitions afforded by the Malacca and Knight Commander and other cases of Russian outrage on the high seas. Consequently, it only needed, figuratively speaking, for the Government to " press tho button " and the the British fleet was fully prepared to "do the rest."

It was definitely determined front the outset that the Russian Baltic fleet would nofc be allowed to pass out of European waters until Russia should have accorded ample satisfaction for the murderous outrage. To Lord Charles Beresford and the Channel fleet was entrusted the veiy congenial- task of stopping or sinking tho Russian murder-ships. All who know Lord Charles, even by reputation, will readily understand how gleefully he undertook tho i.ask. Nor were- Admiral Sir Compton Doitivile and the Mediterranean fleet at all behindhand. Admirals, officers, and men were only too eager -to be "at 'em." "Without any boasting, it may fairly be stated that the association of these two fleets constituted by far and beyond all comparison the most powerful naval' combination ths world has ever yet scon. It is difficult to believe that had it oome into actual collision with the Russian Baltic fleet the latter could have escaped almost immediate destruction-. The Russian Admiral — whose mile-long and \itterly unpronounceable name is nevor spelled in the same way twice running or by any two papers, and whom I therefore am compelled to refer only as " R — v " — has been prompt in proclaiming his resolution to fight unto death against any British attack, but in view of present circumstances that is a mere bit of bluffy brag. Meanwhile tho press of virtually the entire civilised world raised a unison chorus of the severest censure upon the Russian proceedings. No more bitter or incisive condemnation was passed than that of the Teaifang ITrenoh and German journals. What must have been still more galling for Russia was that the note of ridicule was freely sounded in the press of both those countries, fondly imagined by Russia to stand to h&r in the relation of both Codlin and Short. This must indeed have been " the most unkindest cut of all," for the French and German critics both assumed that the Russian proceedings were due to abject cowardice, and, moro than this, in several cases they took it for granted that the wild terror thus generated had been aggravated into a species of delirium trcmens through the excessive culture of " Dutch courage." In other words, it was not merely privately believed, but openly asserted throughout Europe, that the Russian Admiral and his officers and men had gone to sea so utte-rly frightened at the prospect of meeting Japanese opponents on their way that they had taken to drink to drown their terror, with the disastrous result that they not only " saw double," but also beheld innumerable •foes and appalling specires where nothing really existed but a few helpless and" harmless fishing boats and their crews. Accordingly they acted, as one oommentator points out, just as might have a big blustering bully who had to go out after dark, who went out fully armed for fear of highway robbers, and who, casually encountering a few children returning from evening school, promptly fired on them until his ammunition was exhausted. Even Spain was unsparing of derisive comments upon the achievements of these " braves," and as was only natural went to her great national author Cervantes for appropriate comparison, which, of course, was found in the person of Don Quixote, armed cap-a-pis, attacking a flock of harmless sheep under the' delusion that they were mail-clad warriors on their way to assail him. Even more stinging, perhaps, were the ironical congratulations of French, German, Austrian, and Italian journals on the "First great violory " achieved by the Baltic fleet — viz., ths murder of a few unarmed fishermen and the sinking of their boats. On the first receipt of the news in Russia the attitude of her leading journals was, it must be confessed, eminent for its correctitude ; extreme regret for the occurrence was expressed, the conviction declared that it must have been due to some mistake which would be fully explained in due course andi for which Russia would, as a matter of cewse, make ample amende. Then it was announced in many leading London papers that the Czar himself had personally telegraphed to King Edward expressing extreme regret at what had happened and promising ample reparation. It soon turned out that this telegram existed only in journalistio imagination, none having been sent by the Czar. What actually happened w<s that the Czar expressed to the British Ambassador" in St. Petersburg his personal regret at the occurrence, and his assurance that full inquiry shoxild be made into the circumstances. This utterance was duly conveyed through the usual circuitous channel to hi 3 Majesty King Edward. Next day things at St. Petersburg looked still more promising. In several quarters the immediate starting of a fund for the

relief of the- North Sea victims was promulgated. The idea originated among the St. Petersburg aristocracy, but it was also put forth by one of the principal newspapers which went a step /farther, and actually headed the fund with a handsome donation. On all hands was to be heard tho declaration that Russia must do what was reasonably expected of any civilised nation, but that, of course nothing could be done, or even proposed, until the other side of the case should have been heard and the full report received from Admiral R — y. This was so manifestly reasonable that nobody could take any serious objection, although as day after day went by and no reply was received from the Russian Government, the people of England chafed more and more under the delay. Hardly anything else was talked of or thought of in all public places or in private houses, in the streets, or in trains, or in omnibuses, but this one momentous and all-absorbing topic. I must confess that I very often heard the vigorous view expressed that wo ought not to have asked explanations or waited for them, but that our fleet should have been ordered to arrest or sink the Russian Baltic squadron without a moment's unnecessary delay. However, milder counsels prevailed, and the nation waited. It was not until a late hour last night that the outcome was known outside the limits of the Cabinet. As a matter of fact the Russian reply was received shortly after noon yesterday, but it was considered advisable as a matter of public policy — perhaps I ought not to say, stiil more so as a matter of_party policj — that the announcement should be made publicly by the Prime Minister himself, who was to deliver a speech at Southampton last evening. Meanwhile the aspect of the situation had undergone a very sudden and singular and sinister change. Admiral R — y's report had been made public in St. Petersburg, and the reasonable correctitude of the former journalistic tone had entirely disappeared, save in a very few creditable instances. The tone assumed yesterday was one of unlimited bluster and brag. " Let them all come," was the cry. England might possibly be able to smash up the Baltic fleet by dint of mere superiority of naval numbers, but it was not at sea that the issue would b& tried ; let England once make a hostile move against Russia, and the Russian army would immediately occupy Herat, would then annex Afghanistan, and would ultimately dictate her own terms of peace, both to England and to Japan at Lahore, after easily conquering India. That was the attitude of the Russian press generally yesterday, and from that the worst was augured, for it was feared that Russia might have succeeded in bringing to bear a sufficient amount of pressure, or, at anyrate, influence, upon both France and Germany to prejixdice our relative position in a very serious degree. The symptoms were rendered all the more menacing through a simultaneous change in the attitude of several prominent Parisian journals, which showed a disposition to accord credence to Admiral R — y's story that he had been actually attacked in the North Sea by Japanese " torpedo boats under the supervision of a Japanese cruiser. Upon this basis the contention was set up that England must exercise patience, and must be content to wait until the whole circumstances should have been thoroughly investigated by a Russian Court-martial or other Russian Court of Inquiry. It need hardly be said that this suggestion was received not only with strong disapprobation, but with very marked resentment by England, and there were not lacking indications that the new Anglo-French entente cordiale stood in considerable peril. Meanwhile all Britain's leading public men !hiad spoken out with the utmost patriotic plainness, on the Opposition as well as on the Ministerial side. From Lord Rosebery this might have been expected, but I am glad to "say that even .Sir ±a. Campbell-Bannerman was as outspoken as could possibly have been desired; and, indeed, speaking without the responsibilities of office, went farther in his denunciations of the outrage than any Ministerial speaker had allowed himself to do. But it has been a most impressive and, I might even say, solemn characteristic of thismomentous" and memorable week that, amid all this unparalleled irritation and excitement, the people of England have maintained an outward calm and freedom from gesticulation which has been in itself splendid in its aspect- of conscious and resolute determination to waste no mei'e idle words over its wrongs, but to redress them with its whole force. Certainly the King, on his arrival in town, was cheered even with unwonfed heartiness, and great crowds assembled in the neighbourhood of Downing street to see Ministers enter and leave yesterday's Cabinet meeting — one which undoubtedly was fraught with issues as tremendous as any body of men in this world ever had to face. There were only two possible ■ -alternatives — reasonable Russian concession or Armageddon ! I must not omit tc/note tbat during this historic week of strained anxiety the friendly offices of France have been used most freely on^ our side. The French President and Premier have been most earnest in their representations to Russia that she was in the wrong, and ought to make adequate reparation to England. France's own action in this way concerning the Fashoda incident was addxiced as one which Russia might well follow, and it was pointed out that France's alliance with Russia by no means bound her to support her ally when the latter, "on her own," embarked on a course of flagrant lawlessness and perpetrated an unquestionable wrong. At the same time, Monsieur Paul Cambon, the very able and deservedly popular French Ambassador in London, was unremitting and untiring in his labours in the cause of peace. Yesterday afternoon a vague hint was permitted to be given to the London press that the situation showed a tendency to improve, but that was all, and Londoners retired to rest last night fully prepared to learn through their morning papers that the long-dreaded misfortune of a great war had at last become a grim ami terrible reality. It was the Prime Minister, Mr Balfour, to whom fell the agreeable role of **' the messenger of peace. "ln his speech at Southampton herwaa able to announce that Russia had practically conceded all four of the British demands — namely, (1) An ample apology, for the insult; (2) full compensation to the persons injured; (3) an investigation into the circumstances, with the view to the due punishment of the guilty officer; (4) satisfactory guarantee against a repetition of maritime outrages. The third item had proved the most troublesome one. The Russian Government had objected, not without some show of reason, that it could not, upon the mere statement of one side, punish

T its own officers, especially as their version of tho occurrence was totally different ; and that all that could be don© meanwhile was to arrest the progress of that part of the fleet concerned in the alleged outrage until all the facts should have been investigated by a tribunal, upon which both nations would be represented, in accordance with The Hague agreement. One would have thought that no reasonable objection could have been offered to what appeared to bs a very fair proposal. As events have turned out, such a conclusion would have been erroneous. But Mr Balfour informed his hearers and, through them, the entire civilised world that tho British Government had agreed to this plan, and that consequently the immediate international strain had become, relaxed, although he was care- , ful to hint that " the end was not yet," but that many difficulties might yet remain to be overcome, if possible, by diplomacy and negotiation. Mr Balfour indulged in some of his most scathing irony in his references to Admiral R y's ridiculous allegations. Indeed, he did not spare any of the lying cowards who were concerned in the infamous atrocity, but, as the report of his speech has been cabled to you at great length, I need not append what must necessarily be belated repetitions. To-day, however, has produced a new phase cf the situation. Most of the great journals of London, notably The Times and Daily Telegraph, cordially approve the action of the British Government. Not so their great rivals, the Standard and the Morning Post, whose utterances are strenuous and bitterly bellicose. One is, of course, sorry that there should still be a discordant note. At the same time, it is idle not to recognise that there are grave difficulties looming ahead, and that this country may ye-t be landed in formidable fresh complications, as the other party to the dispute is so utterly reckless and unscrupulous in its measures. At the same time, one cannot help wishing that our British journals would refrain from the use of needlessly exasperating ancl offensive headlines and comments, which are re- „ garded by outsiders rather as implying weakness and a lack of confidence in the justice of our cause than as a strenuous "advocacy of the right. But I suppose surfi discretion as this is a mere " counsel of perfection " hopeless of realisation and past praying for.