Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-05-28
TITANIC PROBERS
URGE STRICT LAWS
CONTINUED from First Page,

was a counter signal from a large white
light which was flashed for nearly two
hours from the mast of the Californian.
In our opinion such conduct, whether
arising from Indifference or gross care
lessness, is most reprehensible and places
upon the commander of the Californian
a grave responsibility. The wireless oper-
ator of the Californian was not aroused
until $3.50 a. M, New York time, on the
morning of the 18th, after considerable
conversation between officers and mem
bers of the crew had taken place aboard
that ship regarding these distress sig
nails or rockets, and was directed by the
chief officer to see If there was any
thing the matter, as a ship had been nf-
ing rockets during the night.
The inquiry thus set on foot immediate
ly disclosed the fact that the Titanic
had sunk. Had assistance been promptly
proffered, or had the wireless operator
of the Californian remained a few min
utes longer at his post on Sun-ay eve
ming, that ship might have had the proud
distinction of rescuing the hves of the
passengers and crew of the Titanic.
The committee believes many more
lives could have been saved had the sur
vivors been concentrated in a few life
boats, and had the boats thus released
returned to the wreck for others.
Ismay Mentioned Only Once.
The only mention of J.. Bruce Ismay
occurs in a review of the messages to
the White Star offices in New York,
reporting the disaster. The first Off
cial Information the committee declares
was the Message from Captain Had
dock, of the Olympic, received from the
White Star line at 6:16 p. M, Monday,
April Is. Attention is called to the fact
that In the face of this information, a
message reporting the Titanic being
towed to Halifax was sent to Represent
alive j. A. Hughes. at Huntington, w.
Va, at 7:51 p. M, hat day. The mes
sage was delivered to the Western
Union office In the same building as the
White Star line offices.
whoever sent this messa ge,' says the
report, under the circumstances, is
guilty of the most re~prehensible con
duct"
The committee does not believe that
the wireless operator on the Carpathia
was duly vigilant enough in handling
his messages after the accident and de-
clared the practise of allowing wireless
operators to sell their stories should be
stopped.
It is recommended that all ships car
rying more than 100 passengers have
two searchlights; that a revision be
made of steamship inspection laws OF
foraion countries to the standard pro-
posed in the United States: that every
ship be required to carry sufficient life
boats for all passengers and crew; that
the use of wireless be regulated to pre-
vent interference by amateurs. and that
all ships have a wireless operator on
constant duty.
Detailed recommendations are made as
to water-tight bulkhead construction Oh
o~cean-going ships. Bulkheads should be
so spaced that any two adjacent com
partments of q ship might be flooded
without sinking. Transverse bulkheads
forward and abaft the machinery should
be continued water-tight to the upper
most continuous structural deck, and
this deck should be fitted water-tight, the
report says.
The committee deems the course fol-
lowed by Captain Rostron, of the Car
pathia, as deserving of the highest praise
and wrothy of especial recognition. His
detailed instructions issued In anticipa-
ton of the rescue OF the Titanic were
"a marvel OF systematic preparation and
completeness, evincing such solicitude as
calls for the highest commentator"