The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-17
TWO FASTEST CRUISERS
FLYING TO CARPATH|A
Hope to Get News by Wireless
and Relay 1t to WHsh-
ingtOn.
MR.. TAFT Is MOST ANX1OrS
No Hour Of the Night Too Late
for Word of Major
Butt.

WASHINGTON. April l0.-Deciding tha.
for the public interest steps should b.,
taken by the Government to obtain au.
thentic Information concerning the fate
OF the passengers on the Titanic. Presi-
dent Taft directed tho Navy Department
this evening to despatch two Of the swift.
est vessels with high power wireless
to establish communication with the
Carpathia.
The scout cruisers Chester and Salem,
capable OF making ~ to - knots an hour
under forced draught and already at sea
OIL the Atlantic coast. received wireless
instructions from Secretary OF the Navy
Meyer to speed to tho Corpathia The
Chester left Boston yesterday on a three
day trial cruise at sea en- route to Phila.
delphia and was supposed to have been
about twenty -four hours out Of Boston
when the orders were wired her at
o'clock this evening. The Salem left
the Southern drill grounds on the vir-
ginia Capes this afternoon at $3.50 for Bos-
ton ana she was intercepted at O'Clock
on her way up the coast.
Commander Lloyd n. Chandler. com.
manding the Salem. acknowledged the
order within q few minutes after it was
sent from the Washington Navy Yard
I Commander B. G. Decker. commanding
the Chester, had not yet acknowledged
receipt OF his orders up TO 0 o'clock this
evening. 80 another message was flashed
and was also duplicated by way OF tns
Newport r. l.. wireless station.
These ships are equipped with turbines
The Chester is the swiftest vessel in the
American navy above the destroyer class,
having made 20 SO knots on her trial trip.
~, Go In, hos
With these two cruisers tlashing at full
speed toward the path Of the Carpathia.
which il bringing in survivors OF the
Titanic it was thought that a chain "
communication with that ship might he
established tonight. These cruisers be-
less outfits. the Salem being equipped
with ten kilowatt set. the highest OF
any wireless set in the navy
The Salem has a record Of about 7O)
miles in communication with shore sta.
tions by day and has covered greater
record of about 400 miles. With the
Chester considerably in advance of the
Salem IL is thought she may be able to
communicate with the Carpathia fret and
relay the message to the Salem through
which it will be sent to Washington by
/ President Taft Ia deeply concern. d
over tho fate Of Major Butt. his personal
aid. and arrangements were made with
the Navy Department by which anv i'll
formation obtainable concerning Ma ior
at any hour Of tho night The ravnl
authorities were instructed to turn over
all information obtainable concerning
the wreck or fate Of the passengers to tna
newspapers for publication for tho bnon-
fit Of friends or relatives Of the passeu r"r :
Capt. Chandler in a radiograph {, tho
Navy Department tonight said that OWN q
to the conditions of his boilers it has been
impossible to put the Salem to more than
Is knots speed. lie said that at this speed
he would reach latitude II longitude "a
Wednesday night. at which time he should
intercept the Carpathia II she Is expected
to reach New York Thursday morning.
! Although the Salem wireless is capable
Of long distance communication this can.
NOT be accomplished at a greater distance
! than the Carpathia wireless can reach.
The Carpathia's wireless Is understood
to be reliable at less than 100 miles.
/ Capt. Decker. commanding the Chester.
reported at o'clock tonight that he was
oil Nantucket Shoal lightahip and was
proceeding at full speed TO the scene.
He has considerable advantage in
/ distance over the Salem and is expected
to be able TO communicate with the Car
pathia before morning.