New-York tribune., 1912-04-29
SEA PER|LS SHOWN
BY TITANIC INQUIRY
Testimony Brings Out Many Les
sons To Be Needed on Great
Ocean Liners.
PRESENT METHODS UNSAFE
Senators Anxious to End Investi-
CATION, Which They Believe
Has Now Served It's
Purpose.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

fFrom The Tribune Bureau
washington. April 2s-The Senates In
,.,,iratIon OF the disaster to the steam
-, rritanIc has demonstrated the follow
,n- broad general truths. applicable to al
vessels
rha, the non-slnkable ship mas not YET
been devised.
That Svery oceangoing vessel should ot
orov,ded with sufficient lifeboats to accom-
mediate it's entire human complement. in
Guiding passengers and crew.
That the maintenance of anything ap
r,oacbing fun speed at night m localit,
rhere ice has been reported. rs inexcusablt
reckiessness
That all ships, at least OF the first class
,hould be provided with efficient wireless
.cuinment, should carry two operators, ant
hat one should be always on watch.
THAT the wireless equipment should In
linda such auxiliary electric energy al
uor,d permit of operation for considera
tis time after the stopping or the ships
engines that being the time when wireless
accommodation is likely TO prove mos
essential
THAT In the case OF large passenger ships
., least. the bulkheads should extend to
,oint above the water line, should b'
ea,able of operation from the bridge anc
.ho,,,d ba proyided with such mechanism
as would instantly Indicate to those on the
hr,dpe the successful operation. or the re-
,.ors. Of each watertight compartment
door,
That it is most unwise to intrnst iarg'
number of passengers TO ofncers ana cre"'
Who have had no opportunity to become
rroHcient in both fire drill and boat drill.
That the customary lifeboat gear witt
,aus which must be manipulated by hand
.. ,,sdaorate 10 the demands Of the large
passenger vessels Of the present day.
That a system which provides for the
manning Of the lifeboats with stewards, OF
even sailors. who are without experience
IN handling small boats is dangerous and
inadequate.
That the next serious accident at sea is
practically certain TO be attended by con-
ditions the reverse Of those attending the
disaster 10 the Titanic, that serious panic
is most likely to ensue. and that, there
fore officers should be afforded every pos
,ible facility with which to avert disaster
That the system of loading lifeboats
case OF the great liners. which tower
above the water, proved inefficient In th'
case OF the Titanic, and appears likely tC
do so whenever conditions render theii
loading a necessity.
Titanie's Speed Reckless.
With regard to the Titanic, this investi.
cation has demonstrated:
That the Titanic was navigated with in
excusable recklessness. maintaining q
speed OF not less than 211s knots during
the night in region from which authen'
tic reports of the presence Of ice hac
reached her skipper.
That following the collision there was a
serious loss OF time in warning passenger
and launching the lifeboats, due to an un-
warrantabIe confidence IN the non-sinka bic
character of the ship.
That when the gravity of the situation
was realized the officers and crew displayed
remarkable personal bravery, amounting in
some instances TO heToism, and that they
did everything IN their power 10 avert loss
of life.
That officers and crew were seriously de-
hcient in boat drill and possessed so little
knOWle0Se OF tnejT snip boibc, at iOosS
Of the officers dared not load the boats as
they hung in the davits with more than halt
their capacity.
That grave doubt must be entertained as
10 the operation Of the bulkhead doors and
that there was nothing on the bridge TO in
dicate 10 the skipper whether or not they
were closed.
That in this instance the passengers. as
well as the crew. exhibited remarkable CON-
posure and bravery in the presence OF
danger, although IT must remain question
as 10 what extent this was due TO lack OF
appreciation Of the danger. especially in the
case Of the passengers.
With regard TO j. Bruce Ismay, this In
vestigstion has demonstrated, and It seems
due 10 Mr. Isnlay to say II:
That he told straightforward and clear
story when on the witness stand. and tina,
there is nothing In subsequent evidence
which contradicts his own account on the
witness stand or the statement which he
later gave to the press. Mr.. Ismay's state.
rnents that he left the ship in the last boat
TO be launched on the starboard side, and
that when he left there were no women In
sight or, apparently within hearing. have
been strongly confirmed. Individual judg-
ment Of Mr.. Ismay. IN the light OF his own
story, will, of course. vary. but no just esti-
mate Of his course can be formed without
giving due credit to the fact that he had
the courage 20 tell the exact truth when
his conduct was challenged.
Ii Is noteworthy that Mr.. Ismay has been
the chief figure throughout this investigs-
ton, every session OF which he has at
tended. Assuming that he has any sensi-
bilities-and there is no reason TO assume
the cmtrary-his experience must have
been most distressing. Every survivor has
been catechised regarding Mr.. Ismay's
conduct in a manner which, perhaps un'
syoidably, indicated on the part OF the
Chairman grave suspicion of the verscity
OF Mr.. Ismay's testimony.
Brave Conduct OF Officers.
With regard 10 other individuals the In
vestigation has demonstrated:
That Captain Smith conducted himself
with great bravery after the accident. al