TITANIC ENQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1507, 1 August 1912, Page 5

TITANIC ENQUIRY

, : THE COURT'S FINDINGSPEED EXCESSIVE. BOARD OF TRADE BLAMED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Conrricht London, July 31. Tlio report oC Lord, Mersey, President | of tlio Court of Inquiry sot up by the Board of Trade to inquire into the loss \ of the Titanic, Ims been published. ( The, principal finding of the Court is that the disaster was duo to the excessive , speed of the Titanic, which travelling ' at L'l knots, after having been named [ during the day. and evening of tlie lieiglibourliood of ice. The boat arrangements, although in excess of tlio Board of Trade requirements, were improper and insufficient. , Captain Smith was grievously mistaken in not reducing, speed, though not neglii gent.' There was no moral duty imposed on Mr. lunay, managing director of the line, t to remain on board uutii the vessel sunk. Tile steamer Californian saw tlio sinking vessel's lights and distress signals, and could have saved many. The gross charge that Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon had bribed the sailors in his boat to row away from the Titanic wns unfounded. The thircl-class passengers were not unfairly treated. It was irregular foi Captain Smith to give Mr. Ismay the Baltic's message that ice was in the vicinity, and it was improper for Mr. Tsmay to retain it. The incident, however; had not influenced the navigation, of the 'iitanic. It was to be regretted that <.01110 of the Titanic's lifeboats did not attempt to save life, particularly boat No. 1 The Court condemned the piactice of steaming at full fvec-d in, an ice l'tgion at niglit. The Board of Trade should remind shipmasters that it was a misdemeanour not to go to the assistance of a vessel in distress. Tlio Court recommends that an intornational conference should bo held to consider the question, of longitudinal and vertical bulkheads; also watertight bulkheads for each side of a ship, watertight decks abovo the water-line, and searchlights. It also recommends that lifeboats and rafts should be provided according to the number of passengers carried, not the tonnage of the vessel; thero:should bo mere frequent boat, fire, and watertightdoor drills. There should be a police system in all ships to secure obedience, and the wireless should be open night and day.