As the result of this bombardment at close quarters, which
lasted twenty minutes, and in which all four battleships took part, the skipper and third hand of the Crane ' had their heads blown off, six out of the remaining seven men on board were wounded, and the vessel herself was sunk ; the Mine ' was riddled fore and aft by twelve shots ; the `Moulmein' and `Snipe' were also badly damaged. The survivors on the ` Crane' were pluckily rescued before their vessel sank by the skipper and crew of the Gull,' but no attempt of any sort to lend assistance was made by the Russian fleet, though it is stated that one ship cruised about in the neighbourhood for three-quarters of an hour. We have stated the facts as simply, nay, coldly, as possible, for the matter is too serious and too painful for rhetoric. But though we have not used the language of emotion, it must not be supposed that we do not feel the deepest sympathy with the wounded, and with the families and friends of the dead. Nor do we fail in a sense of burning indignation at the stupidity and criminal reckless- ness which caused the outrage, or at the callousness of those
who made no attempt to bring succour to the innocent fisher- men whom they had attacked in the frenzy of their panic. What has happened, however, calls for the dignity of sorrow and reprobation, and not for any unrestrained or violent outburst.
