THE WIMMERA INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1918, Page 7

THE WIMMERA INQUIRY.

CAPTAIN- HELD -RESPONSIBLE. NEGLECT OF ADJIIRALTY INSTRUCTIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Oct. 15. the finding of the Court in regard to the loss oi the steamer Whninera held that the facts were consistent with the explosion of a moored mine, that the vessel was travelling in 50 fathoms of water and through the minefield laid by the enemy, for other mines had been found in the vicinity. There was no room for doubt that the vessel struck a moored mine. Notwithstanding the warning issued to Captain Kell on October 10, .11)17. and November 2,1917, he, on the trip from Sydney previous to that on which the Wimmera was lost, navigated on a course from the North Cape which took the Wimmera close to the position where she was subsequently loss. In Sydney, on June 17,11)18, Captain Kell was handed confidential information and certain warnings. After re-ceiving-these warnings, Captain Kell seta course from the North Cape which took his ship through water in an area which the warning of January 18, IMC, defined as a dangerous area. It was difficult to imagine any navigational difficulties to account for failure to comply with the warnings. The evidence showed that Captain Kell was a very careful and capable officer of long experience, but, whatever the explanation might be, it was apparently impossible to come to any other conclusion than that the loss of the ship was due to his neglect to take the precautions indicated in the Admiralty warnings. The Court remarked upon the fine discipline of the vessel and comparatively small loss of life, and the fact that the captain remained with his ship to the last, and gave his life by doing so, being in accordance with the best conditions of the British mercantile marine-

Tn conclusion, the Court made an appeal to masters to pay the utmost attention to all Admiralty warnings and directions.