New-York tribune., 1912-04-22
LONDON THINKS ISMAY
HASN'T HAD FAIR PLAY
Says Custom of Considering Man
Innocent Until Proved Guilty
Has Been Violated.
RESCUE TALE UNCONVINCING
British Inquiry Will Try to Dis
cover What Was Wrong
Rather than Who Was
to Blame.
rBy Gable TO The Tribune. ]

London April 21.-J. Bruce Ismay, is,
on the whole, regarded here as a harshly
treated man. The old English custom Of
considering a man innocent until he has
been proved guilty is, according TO the
dispatches published here, not being ad-
hered TO on your side Of the Atlantic.
English papers are appealing for fair
play for Ismay, and are disposed TO
sympathize with the reported statement
that he considers the Senatorial inquiry
brutally unfair.
Mr.. Ismay has challenged thorough
investigation in England, and people
here say he must have 1t. The fact has,
nevertheless, not escaped notice that his
statement about his own rescue is not as
convincing as it might be, but 1t IS gen
orally regarded as most unfortunate that
he happened TO be aboard the Titanic.
AS on every vessel the captain is king
even Ismay the head of the company
would be temporarily under the orders
of Commander Smith.
The prompt action Of the Senate in In
sisting on an immediate inquiry in New
York has caused establishment here,
where people are accustomed to the more
leisurely methods of the Board Of Trade,
and II Is pretty safe to assume that the
conduct Of the examination in this coun-
try will differ fundamentally from the
one in America.
So far as II is possible to sift the evil
dence that has reached here from New
York. 1t tends to show that the object of
the inquiry is to find out who was re-
sponsible for the disaster. In England
the investigation will aim at discovering
what was wrong rather than who was to
blame.
Every preacher throughout London to-
day referred to the appalling tragedy,
and in every church Nearer, My God,
TO Thee" was sung, while the eyes OF
hundreds Of worshippers were wet with
tears. A more striking testimony TO the
way London has been affected by what
is looked upon here as the most impress
sive incident Of the disaster and most
touching story Of heroisn could not well
be imagined.
Eloquent tributes were paid by emit
nent preachers to the captain and crew
Of the Titanic and the notable victims OF
the disaster particularly W. t. Stead
and others. In many cases the Offer
tories were devoted TO the relief funds
which now aggregate more than $780,
600.
Special services were held aboard al
his majesty's warships, and mourning
was generally observed in the same man
ner in the British colonies.
In addition 10 an almost UNIVERSE
movement in the direction OF providing
better lifesaving appliances on ocean
liners, there are indications OF a move
ment for taking better advantage Of the
wireless. The necessity OF two wireless
operators being aboard every vessel is
emphasized by the fact that the liner
Partisan missed the TitaniC's call fol
help only through the operator being OF
duty at the time, and an agitation has
commenced here in favor Of the Board
Of Trade formulating regulations to gov
ern the wireless arrangements aboard
ships.
The Austrian government also has
taken steps to assist in the installation
Of wireless system on all ocean pas
senger steamers, the government bear
ing mart Of the expense on condition that
II will receive percentage of any