OCR Text |
Show REGRETS SEA TRAGEDY. Russia Promises Full Reparation to All Concerned. LONDON. Oct. 26. The Russian reply to Great Britain's note on the subject of the North 6ea tragedy has been received by the British Government. Gov-ernment. It expresses deep regret at the occurrence and promises full reparation repar-ation so soon as an official report ls received re-ceived from Vice-Admiral RoJestvensky. In Shape of Letter. The reply was received by Embassador Embassa-dor Benckendorff during the night and was forwarded to Foreign Secretary Lansdowne In the shapo of a formal letter. In which tho Embassador, waiting wait-ing on cabled instructions from St. Petersburg, Pe-tersburg, gave the above assurances, adding that while the Russian Government Govern-ment at the time of cabling was still without otllclal knowledge from Its own sources of the occurrence In the North sea It feels so certain It was an error that It wishes at on-je to express Its regret re-gret and assures the British Government that full compensation will be mado as soon as the details are received. Diplomats Hold Conference, Embassador Benckendorff himself drove to Lansdowne house before noon, had half an hour's conference Avith Foreign For-eign Secretary Lansdowne and subsequently subse-quently proceeded to Downing street nnd saw Premier Balfour. During the conference Lord Selborne, llrst lord of the- Admiralty, called in Capt. Prince Louis of Battenberg. the director of nnval intelligence. Attorney-General Flnluy was also present. The Premier, Prince Louis and Lord Selborne are all members.' of the defense committee. The conference lasted about an hour. Naturo of British Demands. Lord Selborne's speech at the Pilgrims' Pil-grims' dinner yesterday evening is accepted ac-cepted us revealing the precise nature of the British demands, namely, an ample apology, generous compensation, the punishment of the guilty and an adequnte guarantee against a repetition repeti-tion of the offense. No Warlike Preparations, Apart from the Admiralty's announcement an-nouncement that precautionary orders had been Issued to the fleets there are practically no signs of anything In the nature of war-llkc- preparations, thus confirming tho opinion universally held In all well-Informed circles here that the pledges given by Emperor Nicholas and the Russian Government will be generally fullllled, and that the crisis will puss away without serious consequences. conse-quences. Order to Hurry Equipment. A telegram from Portsmouth reported that orders had been received this morning to hurry the equipment of certain cer-tain ships of the reserve, out this, it is understood, was comprised In the Admiralty's Ad-miralty's order already announced, and this Continues to receive high approval from public bodies, and the newspapers, though the more jingoistic of the latter, express the hope that It means that the Russian squadron will not be permitted to go beyond Gibraltar, or if It does, that the- squadron will be followed. Vice-Admlral Lord Beresford's vessels, the Channel squadron, are lying conveniently con-veniently In the shadow of the rock of Gibraltar. The British cruiser Suffolk, winch was to have left Gibraltar for Malta today, was ordered to remain at Gibraltar, |