New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29
WHAT THE FRENCH LINES AGENT sAYs

THE NEW COURSE ADOPTED BY ALL THE LINES
EXCEPT TIE FRENCH
In discussing the decision ana findings of the
Canadian Court Of Inquiry as to the accident 20 In
BourCoene. Mr.. Faguet. cct1g general agent Of the
French lire here said yesterday.
"The lEGlng Of the Court 10 all right as far
the Cromartyshire is concerned. The Court only
heard evidence on one side Of the case The Court
called the crew Of the CroHlartyshire. and heard
them and no other Witnesses II the inquiry had
been held in a United States or French court. the
finding might have been different. I do not think
that La Bourgogne out Of her We
leave the course our steamers should take TO the
judgment of tho captains In command Sometimes
they take and hen again they take
another: IL depends on the weather and the tee
bergs We do not think Il possible 10 follow any
fixed rule for a steamers Our charts show
that La Boursosne and other steamers of our line
have always taken safe course"
Almost al the time of making public the ind
ing Of the Canadian Court % Inquiry. the steam
chip lines. with the exception of the French
line made public the .act that new course across
the Atlantic had been adopted by them. and that
in the future all steamers of these lines would fol-
low the course adopted This announcement OF
the new course is IN harmony with the statement
In The Tribune Of July which announced that the
lines were about to arrange new route across tho
Atlantic.
The French line refused 10 this conference
and abide by the course prepared. and will
tinue as formerly TO use the Great Circle route 10
Havre. which while shorter. takes the steamers
nearer the Banks Of Newfoundland and az the
same time crosses both the easterly and westerly
courses followed by steamers of the other lines.
For number of years the transatantic steam
beea following well-dehneG :anes OF travel In cross
ing the Atlantic
Two different courses were adopted-the summer
and winter course The summer coursa carried the
ives bound vessels within hun-red and sixty miles
Of Sable Island or hundred miles south OF where
the accident 10 La Bourgogre occurred The win
ter course was still further south. Separate lanes
Under the rules followed by the steamship lines
r. winter couI Sc was used from January 10 July
year.
some radical changes IN the course, and divide the
year into four seasons. instead Of two. The sum
Island but this is for less than one month Of the
year: The winter course is still further away from
work OF mapping out this new course was left to
the navgaors Of the different lines at conference
was approved at another meeting. held in London
AceoTdns to the new schedule, he eastbound
ApT % a 4 the c6arsd viii be slightly
The banks and T0m June "a 70 Juiy q the course
Banks than It S nov From July "a to January
II middle course will be taken axe ,,,,,, ..,,
taken by steamers ravelline east; both as TO time
bern course win be taken BY wes,bound
se.s from January Is 10 April The course Is then
northern course il taken from June X 20 July ~.
and then the is gain changed further south,
and is followed until January y This arrange
ment went into effect on July p. and the stea n
ship lines believe that the routes when actual
ly used by all vessels. will 60 much 10 lessen the
chances Of collisions at
None OF the agents o. the various lines would
press opinion the finding OF the Canadian
Court Of Inquiry It's recommendations 20
q course further than say that all the lines
except the French had already adopted
course. which they believed would be satisfactory.
Mr.. Faguet. 0: the French line who IL acting
general agent in place Of Mr. Focande. who is ont
OF the city said that his line did not agree to the
course owing TO the fact TINT Il believed that
no speclfc course could be olowed at all times,
and that the line preferred 70 leave the course 10
the captains OF its vessels
Emil L. Boas. of the Hamourg-American Line,
said:
Il do not desire TO cr,icise the French line IN
any way. We have accepted the new course. and
captains of vessels will be expected to follow
Il absolutely Their logs will Re examined at the
end Of each trip. and II they have not followed the
course they will be fined The course suggested by
the Halifax Court is too far 70 the southwark. and
we believe the course now adopted Is The better
one"
Clement A. Griscom. jr.. manager of the 1nterna-
tional Navigation Company. said
We agreed 10 the new rules. as we believed them
perfectly satisfactory. and any captain OF our
steamers who does follow the proper course
will be promptly DISCHARGED -