Baltic Fleet Outrage

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1140, 8 November 1904, Page 3

Baltic Fleet Outrage

I'i'eSH Association—Copyright. London, Nov, 7 The Novoe Vremca publishes an account supposed to have been supplied by one of tho four Russian offiiwH belonging to the Baltic fleet who are returning to St. Petersburg, and who are believed to be indicating their line of defence before the the commission.

The officer states that Russia had heard of tlw presence of Japanese vosaels in the Norwegian fjords, and that Japan had chartered ships at Hull, Southampton, Hamburg, Christrania, and elsewhere, A further series of alarming telegrams wore received before the fleet passed the Skaw, to the effect that four torpedoers wore coaling at a certain fjord. The account asserts that the Japanese torpedoers were pursuing the transport Kamsehatka, and that repeated wireless messages, in faultless Russian, reached the Russian warships, ostensibly from the Kamsehatka, and when the warships asked the names of the officers of the transport sending the messages they ceased. Tho Japanese vessels then *'earned towards the body of ill" IM. On.' of them sent up a red and green rocuot, as if in distress, The torpedoers then turned their searchlights on the fleet, which fired.

He adds that some of the trawlers behaved very suspiciously. They had no lights or flags, and no one was seen on the decks, though they continued to approach. A reasonable inference was that they intonded to lay mines. Any attempt to assist the trawlers might have endangered the fleet. He declares tha* the Japanese were either in collusion with the trawlers or mingled amongst them without their knowledge.

THE COMMISSION'S DUTIES Press Association. —(Jopyrighf London, Nov, 7

The Convention will consist of four naval officers-British, Russian, American, and French—who will choose a fifth. If they disagree, some neutral king is to select the fifth, The Commission will sit at Paris as soon as possible, and report on all the circumstances of the disaster and establish the responsibility and settle the procodure, The parties agreo to supply all the necessary information to facilitate the inquiry. LONDON, November 7 Sir Charles Hardinge has submitted to Count Lamsdorff three additional articles, providing for tho appointment of legal assessors to the Commission. The Daily Express states that'the decision of the majority of the Commission nill be binding on both Powers.

THE DESTROYER YARN

RIDICULED BY THE "TIMES." Press Association-Copyright. London, Nov. 7

The Stockholm correspondent of the Temps has been authorised to deny that any Japanese torpedoers were in the Norwegian or Swedish fjords. The Times ridicules the allegations that Japan has purchased six British destroyers since the war, or that any wero concealed in the Nor. wegian fjords.

WATER AND GOAL FOR THE FLEET ANOTHER ROMANCE Press Association-Copyright LONDON, November 7 Tho Volunteer Fleet steamer Karoslav, with coal and water for tho Baltic Fleet, has passed through the Bosphorns. A French paper states that Captain Clado has reported to tho Czar that the fleet encountered near Vigo more Japanese torpedders, which they did not attack. SHADOWING THE FLEET A SIGNAL AND THE REPLY Press Aflsoeiation —Copyright London, Nov, 7

The Daily Mail'H correspondent at Tangier reports that a naval officer relates that Admiral Rozhjestvenski annoyed at the British warships following him, signalled " If you don't keep off we fire," and that tho British signalled" Fire away,"