RUSSIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 255, 1 November 1904, Page 2

RUSSIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS.

EXTENT OF THE PUBLIC SVMPATIIY. LONDON, Off. 31. Only twehw roubles were subscribed ;n St. Petersburg in response to tho ajjpeal made by a newspaper on behalf of the sullerors by the death of Smith uiul U'gg-ott, on the trawler Cruae. A PEOPLE HOODWINKED. THE CURIOUS STORY CURRENT IN RUSSIA. (Received Oct. HI, 11.11 p.m.) LONDON. Oct, 31. Renter's St. Petersburg convspondent says the public are in the dark us to tho real situation. Official statements ignore the fact thut the commission is the outcome <>' most pointed representations, and Britain's determination to obtain complete satisfaction is not mentioned, (iovernmeiit circles are ulime awurc of Britain's real feeling un:l attitude. Few seem to realise that the conclusion of the commission's l inquiry must lie followed bv drastic measures. The story obtaining most credence is that the British Admiralty disguised two fishing vessels as torpedo boats in order to attract the warships' lire »:nd create an incident to prevent the squadron from reaching Port Arthur in time to save it. ANOTHER REMARKABLE STORY. RUSSIANS FIRE ON THEIR OWN VESSELS. (Received Nov. 1, 0.40 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. The Chronicle's Vigo correspondent and the Daily Express? Vigo representative declare that the Bui tic *loet attacked its own torpedo boats, supposing them to be Japanese. Two vessels were scouting and these loomed out of Oie fo B ahead of the transport. Tim officer m chargo of tho latter reported that he was being attacked. One torpedo boat escaped across the bows of thetransport when the firing began ' while the commander of the second' imagining that the Japanese were attacking him, replied with quickfirers Several men on the nearest man-of-war were wounded. On the commander of the torpedo hoat di* covering the mistake he made frenziedsignals and attempts to get beerCrflrin? **&**" Ho was then unaware thaT an V neutrals had been wounded.

RUSSIAN INQUIRY OPENED, ST. PETEnSBUIuToFFIUIALS INCLINED FOR FIGHT. (Received Nov. 1, 0.48 a in ) Th„ n ■ LONDOJf . Oct, 81. JHo Russian naval inquiry has opened at ,Vigo. (Received Nov. ], 0.51 am ) -in, c. ■ LC) NDON, Oct.' 31 Iho -Standard sa Va twenty-one d «re likely to bo spent i„ the prelim! "»uy negotiations regarding the scope of the International Commission which meets at Vigo, but pro* thereafter will % e expedlteT The examination of witnesses was contemplated, but the fishermen's estlmony will be taken by fa*. ihe coir Si ° nerS a W° intcd b y A hash official at St. Petersburg has declared that any attempt to will mean war, anS that Admiral Rohjcshenskl will onlv detach a low officers to participate in the investigation. Mr llalfour's speech has given s ome *«'" St - *|*wl>urg, as is usual when Hussian diplomacy is conce-m-The Daily Telegraph Bays the Russian and British warships are mutually watching each other closely The Times states that until the officers are tried and punislied as justice demands it would be rash and premature to countermand or abate any of the preparations. French advices state that Count Lamsdorff triumphed only after a hard struggle with the war party.