Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1904 — NEW WAR IS A VERTED [ARTICLE]

NEW WAR IS A VERTED

RUSSIA AND BRITAIM AGREE TO ARBITRATE L. Dispute Over Fleet’s At tack Will Go to Hague Court—Eojestv ensky’s Ships Ordered to Stay at Vigo - British Ridicule Admiral’s Explanai ion. Surrounded by a cordon of English battleships, Russia’s Baltic fleet will be held at'Vigo, Spain, until air international commission dec ides whether Russia shall accede to 1 England's demand that the Czar’s ofl icers be punished for killing the Hull fishermen. Cable dispatches Frida; r gave assurances that the Russo-Brit ish complications would be submlttec l to an international commission. This news lightened the war cloud tlu t was black enough to alarm the nati ins. The anger of the English people was hot enough to kindle a war flu me, but coolness ip official quarters probably has averted a conflagration that might have swept three confine nts before it was checked. Russia -hart told Itojestvensky to stay at Vigo u util the hear*ing is completed. This order Is, no doubt, a good thing for I tojestvensky. He might have gone on ‘ seeln’ things at night,” and eventually lave gone up against British war vesse is instead of fishing trawlers. Tlie ch taclnnent of the Baltic squadron not :oncerned In illie North Sea incident is expected to liroeeed to its destination A final in<[uiry will t be held at The lague under t he rules of The Hague c< nvention. Saw Torpedo Eo te. Vice Admiral Rojestvei sky's explanation cf the trawler incl lent is fully its sensational as the nev s of the firing upon the fishing fleet ivhich set all England aflame. He dec ares he was a ttacked in the darkness 1 >y- two torped o boats which came upo 1 the squadr< in from the direction o 1 the fishing fl let. He opened Are ant believes he s; ink one of the torpedo boats, the of her making off for cove r among the sis iliermen. As soon as h< noticed tlie Jis hermen Admiral : tojestvensky c t ased firing. He procei led on his way without leaving an • vessel belpaid, and says he beliey s tlie vessel v.d lich the fishermen repor ed remained on the scene for six hour without offe; ’ing succor to the drow ilng was the otl ler torpedo boat, eltliei waiting for be r consort or repairing damage infli' rted by tlie fire of his s dps. Itojestvensky’s report, w is telegraphed J from Vigo direct to th i Czar, who received it In the uight. it was couiUulnicated in the morning to Ambassador Hardinge by Forelj n Minister La: nsdorff himself. I t Is pointed out the ori final version of the Incident as recited by the cap tali i of the Moulmein, col ncides closely with Rojestvensky’s. The captain sail ,1 while the squadron was passing he i ‘suddenly noticed two tjorpedo boats whi ch approached so neajr he thought the* 7 intended boarding him, when they j sheered off, heading (backlfor the squi idron. Almost Immediately after the squadron opened tire. | John Bull Enraged. Mjaklng due allowance Cor the broad yellanv streaks that rather ■ liberally color tflie news from and St. Petersl >urg, there Is still left a situation full ■ )f grave danger. Official England was held under extreme restraint while awai ting with none too great a reserve of p itienee the definite action of official Russia —for the message of Czar Nichi )las to King Edward kvas nothing more than a personal expression of regret. This strain was re ieved somewhat by the Russian G overnment’s note expressing deep regi et over the occur rence and promising full reparation i is soon as an official report is receive! I from Admiral Rojei tveusky. In additi on to this Ambassad ir Benckendorff assured Lord Lansdo vne that his Govei nment was so certai i the occurrence in the North Sea was an error that ! t would promise fu 11 amends, even (in the absence of off cial knowledge (from Russian sourci s. Thus it appeals that —temporarily at least — the po Int of gravest menace, that is, inordinate delay on the part of the Russian < Jovernmeut, was r< ndered less acute. Although Russia made an initial apolog y for the tragedy 1 i the North Sea, \ rrath In British ofl Icial circles contlni led unabated. Opi ?n defiance was ex pressed against the Czar’s Governmei it, and since the C Jalchas incident, i nd other seizures at Vladivostok, toj tether with the wanfton destruction of the British steame'rs, the public crage for instant wart found expression In acts of the officials. At Woolwich and at Portsmouth the bustle incident to preparations of a hostile campaign was evldonlt, and three mighty squadrons werek mobilized, rendy to sink the fleet of Rl ojestvensky and paralyze Russian comnlaerce on the high seas. » England seeing to have acted with commendable restraint In ( a situation that would try the temper of any nation. She did not lose her head. She simply demonstrated to thi ; world that she was fully prepared to protect her citizens and to teach resi lect for her flag no matter where It nay wave.