The report of the Russian Admiral to his Government, summaries
of which were telegraphed to Friday's papers, gives an account of the occurrence of last Saturday morning which is totally at variance with that of the fishermen. The Admiral declares that two torpedo-boats, either Japanese or English, approached his ships in a suspicious manner in spite of signals, and thereby compelled him to fire. He regrets the killing of the fishermen, but declares that he only did his duty. In another version the Admiral asserts that one of the alleged torpedo-boats disappeared, but " the other remained until morning waiting for its companion or re- pairing." In a third version of the telegram we are told that the mysterious torpedo-boats " attacked the leading vessels of the fleet in the darkness, and when the searchlights disclosed the presence of several steam fishing-boats an endeavour was made to spare them, and the Russians stopped firing. The torpedo-boats then disappeared." Finally, in an interview with the correspondent of the Echo de Paris, the Admiral is made to say : " We knew when we left Libau that we had to fire upon every boat that came near our squadron. We have a great duty to accomplish."
