The Washington herald., 1912-07-31
ENGLISH REPORT
PLEASES SMITH
Michigan Senator Believes Findings
of British Court Agree
With His.
MAIN FACTS BROUGHT
OUT SAME AS HIS OWN
Reports Arrive at Similar Conclu-
sions as to the Cause
of the Horror.

| Senator William Alden Smith, chair
man Of the Senate subcommittee that
Investigated the Titanic disaster. talked
| Interestingly yesterday on the report OF
the British court OF inquiry that was
! made public in press dispatches
from London. Senator Smith was pleased
! with the findings OF the British court
and expressed the opinion that in the
main these findings sustained the report
| made TO Congress by his committee.
Il am reluctant 10 discuss the re-
port" said the Senator from Michigan.
for I feel that the public should be
permitted to draw its own differences
| from the investigations both here and
abroad. But It will perhaps be entirely
appropriate for me to say that / have
looked forward with great interest to
| the British report and feel confident
that It will have a great influence in
| erousing international Interest in Sc
curing greater safety for travel at sea-
In the main the facts brought out in
both investigations are quite in harmony.
Lord Mersey's conclusions that the COL
lision was due 10 excessive speed and
that proper watch was not kept in
the vicinity of the ice. after repeated
warnings had been given and receiveds
by the master OF the Inflated vessel. as
well as his conclusion that the steamer
tanic in ample time to save all those lost,
corresponds with our conclusions. and
leaves no room for doubt that there was
great laxity in management of both ves-
sells.
Found No Discrimination.
Our committee was unable to find any
studied discrimination against the third
class passengers on the part Of either
off he ,.fr
prompted the passengers in the forward
steerage OF the Titanic to seek the upper
decks because the forward part OF the
vessel was Immediately submerged. The
after steerage OF the Titanic was out of
the water, and apparently not threatened
until most OF the lifeboats had departed
and this in great measure restrained the
third-class passengers from seeking the
upper decks where the lifeboats were
launched
Senator Smith was asked what he
thought Of the British courts treatment
OF Mr.. Ismay and Sir Cosmo DufY-Gor
don.
This is peculiarly a matter within the
province Of the British court Bath Mr.
Ismay and Sir Cosmo Duf-GordA were
British subjects and 1 prefer not to
enter into controversy about their action
on the Titanic. 1t is difficult TO say
just what one would do under circum-
stances so trying"
Life Boats For All.
Il am particularly pleased with the
recommendation OF the British commits
sion for a change In the basis OF life
saving equipment. The old rule that life
saving equipment should be based on
the tonnage of a vessel Is out of date
and wholly inadequate for great emer-
gencies. There should be lifeboats or
safety equipment for all passengers and
crew. and this undoubtedly will be the
basis of future British regulations and
is now the basis of American regulations
and has been since July l. The British
commission also found in favor of a
continuous wireless service. night and
day. on ocean-going vessels. This har-
monies with the act Of Congress al
ready passed. the bill making provision
for this having been signed by the
President.
THE commission also found in favor |
of requiring that greater attention be |
paid in navigation to the normal vision |
of the lookout. This is a subject that |
may well be a matter OF the most care |
full scrutiny in the management of ves- |
sells hereafter. The very first thing our |
committee did after getting hold Of the |
Titanic lookout, Fleet, was to have his |
eyes examined, which L directed should 1
be done. could not believe that It was |
impossible for him to see a giant ice |
berg in ample time TO avoid a collision. |
but our examination showed that his |
vision was absolutely normal and his |
claim that glasses would have been |
serviceable to avoid the collision does |
not seem to meet with favor from the !
British court
Agree 10 SearchIIghts.
Their willingness to include search |
lights as a part of the necessary equip |
ment of ocean vessels. however. will |
be gartifying and is quite in harmony |
with conclusions to be drawn from the |
testimony recently offered before our
committee OF the Senate by numerous
masters OF vessels, to the effect that |
such lights would be helpful.
The recommendation Of the British |
court that more watertight compartments
be provided for seagoing ships touches
very live question in ship construction
and will probably call for careful con-
sideration in the international conference
soon to meet in London. The admonition
to masters Of vessels that efficient boat
drills by the crew. to Re held frequently.
is greatly to be desired is also a crafty
ing feature of the report.
This report harmonizes on so many
points with the American report that I
feel greatly encouraged in the hope that II
the proposed International conference