An item reported that the Spanish minister of navy announced hat two Russian battleships were damaged and unable to depart within 24 hours. An second item reported that admiral Rojestvensky stated that 2 fishery vessels were mistaken for Japanese torpedo boats. The Russian cabined that she would not accept punishment of the guilty officers by another country. An item dated Singapore 26th reported that the commanding officer of the ship arrived at Vigo made his excuses for what had happened. He explain the incident while saying that the fishery vessels made suspicious movements and that one commanding officers thought it were Japanese torpedo boats and started firing at them. The English public did not except these excuses. At the mean time were insurance costs for British ships considerable increased. Another item referred to the Russian press regretted the victims but said that at British fleet would have done the same but that the fishermen should have been warned. Further more became known that Spanish authorities immediately after the arrival of the Russian warships at Vigo the Russian admiral informed that it was not allowed to take victuals and coal on board. Rojestvensky answered that his battleship was damaged causing him to enter Vigo. Despite the Spanish order came 5 German colliers alongside the Russian battleship. A Spanish cruiser ordered them to response to the order and 3 of the colliers departed towards Tangier, Morocco. Rojestvensky promised to bunker no further coal in Spanish waters except for a quantity enough to reach Tangier. In the meantime explained prince Koretelly serving as an officer on board of the battleship Imperator Alexander III what happened. The transport fleet which preceded the Russian Baltic fleet thought she was surrounded by 8 torpedo boats and asked for support. The division battleship went forward and signalled the unknown boats to depart and made their nationality known. This was refused and the boat went towards the battleships. Then was a gunshot heard and the commanding admiral ordered a battle line, opened fire and continued his voyage. He knew that Japan bought torpedo boats in England and thought that the unknown boats were those torpedo boats.(1)
Note
1. The Russo-Japanese war between 8 February 1904-5 September 1905.
