Many rumours have been afloat during the week as to
what the Russian case really is. The most coherent and possible explanation, though that is weak enough, is contained in the diplomatic notes contributed to the Temps by M. Georges Villiers. First, he states that the Russian Admiral received some time before he started information, "on safe authority," as to the presence of two boats which were apparently waiting for something, and which navigated first under one flag and then another. Secondly, at the moment when the incident occurred the transport Kamchatka,' which was behind the squadron, saw two torpedo-boats. Almost at the same moment the wireless apparatus of the squadron reported as coming from the Kamchatka' a question, "of which the text could not be revealed, as it must first be communi- cated to the Commission of Inquiry," but which so strongly aroused the Admiral's suspicions that he refused to answer it. It was later ascertained that no message was sent by the 'Kamchatka.' "Hence the Russian officers "- we quote from the version of the Temps's notes published in Friday's Tintes—" concluded that the question came from the two torpedo-boats which wanted information." Thirdly, it was on seeing himself passed by two torpedo-boats—those seen by the 'Kamchatka '—that the Admiral gave orders to fire.
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