27th October.
Norwine that has come to ligh in reference to the cruel outrage committed by the Russian Baltic fi-ct on Siturday morning last has altered the conclusion first frm.d that it was the result of abject panic. One naturally hesitates to impute cowardice to officers, however incompetent, bearing the commission of a European sovereign, but the Russian explanation itself is, Reuter tells us, "that there was reason to fear a Japanese mine attack." Even the German Press, whose general attitude hitherto has been decidedly not anti-Russian, realises that the Bltic fleet is a disgrace and a danger, and that to send it out to the Far Enst is to court the destruction that has bef. Ilen the Russian Pacific fleet. To put such powerful weapons of offence as modern warships in the hands of the officers who committed the recent atrocity is as criminal an act as to give a child a loaded revolver to play with.
Mr, Ba'four, we learn, has sent the Mayor of Hull the somewhat evasive message: " You may have coufislewce in the Government's action." Unfortunately, recent events in connec tion with the Russian comm: ree-worriers have not been of a nature to inspire the full confidence for which Mr. Balfour asks. Our Goversment is undoubtedly sight in its endeavours to limit the presen' hostilities to the two Powers immediately concerned, but to give way to the aggression of one of them is not the best way to avoid complications, There are limits, as we have sail, to British meekness. What the British would have liked is to see orders sent. immediately to our Channel everything afloat under whatever flag it may be. Commanders of ships who "sec in every bush an officer," ud] in every sail a Japanese torpedo-boat, are- not fit to de trusted with guns. Ihe question concerns us in [the East very closely. This Baltic fleet is as dangerous to shipping and commerce as a flict of pirate ships would be, and if it ever succeeds in reaching the East, it will be a terrible menace to shipping, and will dis-organi-e the whole trade on these seas, We are told that Count von Benckendorff, the Russian Ambassador in London, has authorised the "Daily News" to inform the people of England that he is absolutely certain the occurrence is a dep'or-able accident which he regretted both for himself and his country. Count von Beckendortf could do no less, and we heartily sympathise with him in the unfortunate position in which the commanders of the Baltic fleet have put him, and we very deeply regret that any expression of (bee ie feeling in London should have een made against him; he will, of course, have understood that it was not directed against himself porsonally, but against the country he represents. His plea, however, that the outrage was an accident will not bold water fur a moment. We have heard of chassepots going off of themselves; bnt to calla twenty-minute bombardment by a fleet in line of battle, with the target illuminated by searchlights, "an accident" is presuming a little too much on the credulity of the sufferers.
We were told in the first instance that our Government felt that this was not a question which admitted of any delay in settlement. But, of course, the Russians have tried the usual procrastinating tactics. When the volunteer Fleet cruisers Smolensk and St. Petersburg continued worrying British shipping after the Czar had promised that they should be stopped, the excus> was that the Russian Admiralty was unable to communicate with them. Now the Russians plead for delay on the pretext that no report of the incident has reached St. Petersburg from the fleet itself. S" much the worse for the Russian Admiralty; but it is absurd to ex.ect that any other foreign Power is to give way to this slipshod way of doing business. That the Baltic fleet did not stop to rescue any of its victims, did not report the incident at any of the British ports it pressed on its murderous way, and the enormity of the offence and cannot he accepted as any ground for deferring reparuticn. The lives of few fishermen are doubtless a baga-telic to Admiral Avelan and his subordinates in the Admiralty at Sr. Petersburg, but swaller causes than this have brought on big wars, Reurer's telegram yesterday afternoon brought us the news of Lord Lansdowne's demands, and they do not error: the side of excess. Our Goverment asks for due apologies, compensation for the sufferers, a prompt enquiry into the affair, and the punishment of those responsible. We should like to know by whom and before whom the enquiry is to be held. This must meos a temporary check to the progress of the Baltic fleet, if our Government insists, as we hope it will, on the enquiry being an exhaustive one, and on the removal and degradation of the men responsible for the outrage, some of whom should properly be tried for murder. Meanwhil", it is some satisfaction 10 see that the Czar has telegraphed to King Edward, expressing lis deep regret. It would be better still if he ordered his fleet back to Libau until his Admiralty can find trained men competent to command it, As it is it can be well understood that Admiral Togo has no fear of its coming here, if it ever comes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.