BALTIC FLEET CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 256, 2 November 1904, Page 2

BALTIC FLEET CRISIS.

TJIEPKESEHVEHS OF EUUOPE'S PEACE. TKIUI'TES tTTTkENCHMEN. LONDON, Oct. 31. The Times ruriii correspondent slates th..l. ~,. Imluiissu U''i-i-ncii i'orLMfc'ii A 11....-- >■;, .•,i,v' U ,(. a coutiiet coining, bwiai,.-,.; i.eitiii'i- luuun-y understood tue language used by tlu; otuer, told ttussia that what she proposal to do was substantially viliut Great Itritain demanded, and he the AlurcpieSs of LuTisdowuß lliat Kussm liud not linen less uxpoditious than usual, uii|J tliut to precipitate action would thwart the proposed conciliatory steps. M. Delcoxae's and M. Cainljons (French Ambassador to the Court of St. ■J auras) discreet ell'oi-ts have earned the gratitude of the world. The Daily News' Paris correspond, ent declares thai M. Uambon suggested unofficially to Count llenckendorll am inquiry by a .special commission appointed uner the Hague Peace Convention.

SCOPE OF THE INO.UIHY. COMMISSION TO INCLUDE NAVAL EXPEHTS 1 LONDON, Oct. 31. Count Frederick Sehoenibom, a member of Tlie Hague Tribunal, and a prominent Ausli-iau jurist, inter- \ dewed by the paper Fremdenlilatt, stated that Articles 9, 10, and 32 of Tho Hague Convention ailord a means of impartially deciding the main points regarding the punishment of officers found guilty. Jurists alone would he unable to settle the case, hut naval experts will be abhto say wliat inarfciiuo usage permits or prohibits, owl they must be added to; the Court. Many of the sailors at Vigo, not only tho officers elviefly responsible, may be called to testify. The evidence of a single sailor might possibly oe of the greatest importance.

BRITISH NAVAL ACTIVITY. PREPARATIONS FOR EVENTUAI,ITIES NOT RELAXED. The Standard states thiat tho Admiralty (has not suspended the active preparations for eventualities which occupied it last wlwk. Lord Charles Beiesford's ships are noar> Vigo.

A CURIOUS RUMOUR. RUSSIA CONSIDERS THE INCIDENT CLOSED. LONDON, Oct. ill. Instructions given to Dr. Wouldhouse, soliqitor, of Hull, to representRussia at the coroner's inquiry wese cancelled last night, on the. grounds that Russia considers the case closed. The Chronicle and the Express say the -story is unconfirmed. The l'Cho de Paris' St. Petersburg eorrespondent mentions the stoiy as a curious rumour.

ANOTHER RUSSIAN CANARD. TO BLIND THE PUBLIC TO REAL CONDITIONS. LONDON, Oct. 31. The chief Russian newspapers announce that England has accepted the Russian proposals, and several invite admiration for Russia's spirited Admiral. OFFICIAL JINGOISM. ATTEMPTS TO BROWBEAT A MINISTER. (Received Nov. 1, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1. A French newspaper declares that the Russian Admiralty for three days refused Count Lamsdorff (Russian Foreign Minister) any information about, or a permit to telegraph to, the fleet. Ho then appealed to the Czar, who decided airainst the Admiralty.

THE SCATTERED ARMADA. COLLIERS DEPART FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN. LONDON, Ndv. 1. The Russian warships are coaling at Algiers, and some of the colliers have gone to the Cameroons (a German settlement on the Bight of Biafra, West Africa), and- others to Reunion (east of Madagascar), in the Indian Ocean.

THE TORPEDO BOAT YARN. ANOTHER VERSION-FOUR OF THEM ON THE SCENE. LONDON, Nov. 1. i The repairing vessel Kamschatka has arrived at Tangiers. She reportsi thlat she was behind the Russian squadron in the North Sea, and saw four torpedo boats pursuing the fleet. A tori>edo boat fired at close range at the Kamschatka, which returned the fire for eighteen minutes*,, until the torpedo boats disappeared.

COLLECTING THEIR WITS. ALL HANDS STICKING TO THE STORY. (Received Nov. 2, 0.58 a.m ) LONDON, Nov. 1. the Daily Mail's Vigo correspondent says that a Russian officer declares that St. Petc,*„rg authorities will not l-ecwle from the standpoint that torpedo boats, under cover of the fishing fl„ e t, attacked tho squadron. Whatever the finding of Ihe Commission Russia will be unable t 0 censure or pimish the officers for doing their duty. The correspondent adds that the Russians are all the more united on the torpedo boat story ainca they leel strongly the accusations) of nervousness ; and they believe that Russia intends to emerge from the incident with all honours.

THE CZAR'S BELIEF. HE ATTRIBUTES ATTACK TO JAPANESE. (Received Nov. 2, 1.11 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1. Tho Cmr, in the com so of tho audience granted to Sir Oluirles Hardinge, British Ambassador, emphasised his belief that the tragedy was the result of a Japanese attack. He referred to tho story that twenty Japanese had licen sent to Hull to plot the destruction of tne fleet.

DANGER NOT YET OVEU. THE REAL MENACE TO PEACE MAINTENANCE. (Received Nov. 2, O.flS a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1, The St. James' Gazette Buys the International Court of Inquiry is in no wise a Court of Arbitration. It will make a report, 'but no award. "We arc still entitled," the paper continues, " to compel by force what we deem just and necessary to vindicate our honour. If this is not conceded as our right, then the danger i-s not yet. over. The chief jieril to peace is the Grand Ducal Admiralty at St. Petersburg." The Glol>e remarks tluit the real danger of the Russian governmental system is that cadi department considers itself answerable to the Czar alone. The Admiralty issues orders without consulting or informing the Foreign Oilicc.

A WOUNDED FISHERMAN. SIR FREDERICK TREVES VISITS PATIENT. (Received Nov. 2, 0.58 a.m.) LONDON. Nov. 1. Acting on King Edward's instructions, Sir Frederick Treves, the eminent surgeon, visited Hoggart, the boatswain of the trawler Crane. In the surgeon's presence there wore removed pieces 'of shattered bone from bin* arm. which was reset. A