The Sentinel=record., 1912-04-24
NJ GLASSES FOR WATCH
 ON TITANIC
CANADIAN RELATES WoEFUL LACK OF EQUIPMENT ON THE
 "oUEEN OF THE. SEAS"
Men in Crows Nest Asked for Binocu- lars and We're Denied-Lsck of Sailors and Discipline Was
 Noticeable.

Washington, April 2S.--Like the missing horse shoe nail that cost monarch his kingdom, the failure to provide binoculars or spy glasses for the lookouts on the Titanic was one contributing cause of that ships loss, and with it. the loss of more than 1,6O0 lives.
 Two witnesses before the senate investigating committee today agreed on this. They were Frederick Fleet, a lookout on the liner. and Major Andrew Godfrey Peuchen, Canadian manufacturer and yachtsman, who was among the rescued passengers.
 Fleet acknowledged that if he had been aided in his observation by good glass he probably could have spied the berg into which the ship crashed in time to have warned the bridge to avoid it.
 Major Peuchen also testified to the much greater sweep of vision afford ed by binoculars, and as a yachtsman, said he believed the presence of the iceberg might have been detected in time to escape the collision, had the lookout men been so equipped.
 It was made to appear the blame for being without glasses did not rest with the lookout men. Fleet said they had asked for them at South -ampton and were told there were none for them. One glass would have served in the crows nest.
 Major Peuchen criticised in strong terms the lack of experienced sailors on board the Titanic. He said when the call to quarters was sounded, not enough of the crew responded to un- dertake the work required in lower ing and filling the boats. Furthsr more, he said, no drills had been held from the time the ship left South ampton, although it was customary to hold such drills every Sunday.
 Herbert J. Pittman, third officer of the Titanic, told of his failure to turn back the lifeboat in which he and his passengers were idly drifting, to at tempt to rescue others when the ri tanic went down.
 Shuddering at the recollection, he said the cries for help made "one long, continuous moan" The passengers in- sisted that they go back to aid, but it would mean their destruction, he said, so that after starting in the di- rection of the cries, he rescinded his orders and waited for the dawn. Twice he begged to be spared a re- cltal of the facts, but Senator Smith pressed him.
 The importunities and activities of squad of photographers today so aroused Senator Smith that he indig- nantly ordered them all excluded from the chamber.
 This inquiry is official and sol emn." he said, in explanation, and there will be no hippodroming or com mercializing of it. l will not per nit it."
 An amateur photographer managed to slip past the guard later, but was summarily ejected when he sought tc get a snap of the scene.
 J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the International of the Mercan' tile Marine, and Vice President P A & Franklin of the White Star line urgently requested the committee to permit them to return to New York.
 In executive session at the close of the hearing, the committee declin ed to allow either to leave Washing ton until he is no longer needed.
 The committee decided not to cal any more passenger witnesses unti all the British witnesses had beer heard. The committee also decided to delay other important business be fore 1t until the Titanic inquiry ha' proceeded farther
 Major Peuchen's Story.
 During the examination, Senate Smith urged Major Peuchen to striv to recall the names of as many pas sengers as he could.
 q cannot remember many" sai the witness, Out I saw list bein