Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28
BLAMES CAPT. SMITH
FOR LOSS OF BIG SHIP
Senate Committee Chairman Also
Censures British Trade Board.
LAUDs vALoR OF RosrRoN
Declares Congress Should Recognize
Valor-Condemns Anticipated
Shipping Laws-Urges
Reforms.

Blame for the Titanic disaster II
chargeable directly to the failure OF the
dead Capt Smith to heed repeated warn
ings of icebergs ahead, but responsibility
for unnecessary loss OF life must be
shared by Capt. Lord Of the steamship
Californian. through his disregard of dis
tress signals. This is the finding of the
Senate committee which investigated the
sinking of the Titanic. as prepared in a
comprehensive speech delivered in the
Senate today by William Alden Smith Of
Michigan. chairman of the committee.
Senator Smith declared that RESPONSE
bility also rests upon the British Board
of Trade, Ito whose laxity of regulation
and hasty inspection the world is largely
indebted for the awful fatality" In de-
nouncing Capt Lord of the Californian
the senator said the Titanics distress
signals were plainly seen from the deck
of his vessel a short distance away.
England Must Punish.
America will leave to England the chas-
tisement of those guilty, asserted the
senator, and he quoted British law to
show that Capt. Lord might be prose-
cuted Tor miSdemeanor.
Other conclusions presented, in brief.
were as follows:
Before the Titanic departed on her
maiden voyage there were no sufficient
tests of boilers, bulkheads, equipment or
signal devices.
Officers and crew were strangers TO
each other and not familiar with the
ships implements or tools, and no drill
or station practice took place and no
helpful discipline prevailed.
The speed of the Titanic was twenty
four and one half miles an hour at time
of the accident, although officers of the
Titanic had been advised Of the presence
of icebergs by the steamships Baltic,
Amerika and Californian.
Passengers Not Warned.
Passengers were not advised of danger
although President Ismay of the White
Star line, who was taking the vessels
maiden voyage. was informed. No gen.
eral alarm was given nor any organized
system of safety undertaken.
OF the 1,324 passengers and 800 MEM
bers Of crew on boarc there was room
in the nfeboats for only 1.176 persons.
and because Of lack of orderly discipline
the boats took of only 704 persons, II
being rescued from the water.
Officers of the White Star line "battled
with the truth after receiving informa-
morning following the accident.
Senator Smith condemned "antquated
shipping laws and overripe administra-
tive boards" and asked that all nations
act together in shipping reforms. New
laws" he said. will best testify our af-
lection for the dead
Rostron Gets Praise.
Capt Rostron OF the rescue ship Car.
pathia was praised by Senator Smith.
and he urged that Congress recognize his
valor.
At the outset, Senator Smith defended
the course of his committee I'm holding
British subjects to secure their testimony
without delay, and briefly answered criti-
cism of his lack of nautical knowledge.
Our course was simple and plain-to
gather the facts relating to this disaster
while they were still vivid realities he
said Questions of diverse citizenship
gave way to the universal desire for the
simple truth. 1t was of paramount I'M
portance that we should act quickly 70