THE VICTORIA COURT-MARTIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2532, 22 July 1893, Page 1

THE VICTORIA COURT-MARTIAL.

London, July 18. At the Court-martial Admiral Tryon’s flag lieutoimut, Lord Guilford, stated that after tho collision occurred the Admiral exclaimed, “ It is all my fault 1” Stall-Commander T. H. Smith, of H.M.S. Victoria, deposed that Admiral Tryon admitted that the collision was entirely his own fault. Witness thought that the evolution required, about a distance of ten cables. July 11). Captain Bourke admitted that he might have reversed the Victoria’s screw without orders, and said that he would have done so if Admiral Tryon had not been present. Vice-Admiral Markham adhered to the details of the catastrophe as given in despatches. He told his flag-lieutenant that the movement ordered by Admiral Tryon was impossible. Ho thought, however, that Admiral Tryon meant to circle round the outside of H.M.S

Camperdown, which would have been a safe evolution. Vice-Admiral Sir M. Culme Seymour stated that according to the signal book Admiral Tryon’s signal to the fleet allowed of only one interpretation. Rear-Admiral Markham replied that his alternative intepretation allowed of a safe evolution. Rear-Admiral Markham being closely pressed with respect to his reason, admitted that he had never seen such a manoeuvre as the one which he suggested. Admiral Tryon had frequently attempted evolutions which ho (RearAdmiral Markham) only understood when Admiral Tryon had explained them, he forgot Admiral Tryon’s memorandum, allowing Commanders to use their own discretioji when dangerous evolutions were being performed. The Captain of the Camperdown deposed that he was confident that turning in six cables would compel a collision, until Rear-Admiral Markham had suggested that Admiral Tryon intended to circle outside the second division. Personally he was not convinced that the Victoria intended to do so. Captain Bourke stated that Admiral Tryon never consulted the staff with regard to the evolutions. Staff-Commander Smith said that Admiral Tryon’s last words just before the ship turned over, were addressed to a midshipman on the bridge, to whom he said “Don’t stop, youngster; go to the boat.” Lord Guilford, the flag-lieutenant, was the only person who heard Admiral Tryon blame himself for the disaster.