Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-22
Says Blame, it Any, Rests
With Commander Smith,
LINER WAS NOT sPEEDED
Took to Lifeboats Only When He
Saw No Other Passengers.
EXERCISED NO PRIVILEGES
White Star Line ofiicial Replies to
Criticisms Of His Conduct.
Welcomed the Inquiry.

In statement made public by j. Bruce
1smay. managing director of the White
Star line. he replies to various published
particularly those in which his name has
prominently figured.
He denies that he had anything to do
with the navigation of the vessel, and
declares that he did not consult with
her captain regarding her conduct at sea,
and made no suggestion as to the course
or other handling of the ship.
He exercised no privileges that did not
belong to any other first cabin passenger.
he declares; did not sit at the captains
table, and was not dining with him at
the time of the accident. and, in fact,
was in bed when the collision occurred.
Courted the Inquiry.
He had no idea Of returning to Europe
quickly to avoid appearing at the sena-
torial investigation, he adds. and only
knew that the investigation was pending
when informed Of it at the pier on the
Carpathia's arrival.
Mr.. Ismay's statement In part:
when I appeared before the Senate
i
the purpose of the inquiry was to ascer-
tain the cause Of the sinking of the tt
tanic with view to determining whether
additional legislation was required to
prevent the recurrence OF 80 horrible a
disaster.
81 welcomed such an inquiry and ap-
peared voluntarily, without subpoena, and
answered all questions put to me by the
members Of the committee to the best
of my ability. with complete frankness
and without reserve. I did not suppose
the question of my personal conduct was
the subject Of the inquiry, although ]
was ready to tell everything I did on the
night of the collision.
AS have been subpoenaed to attend
before the committee in Washington to-
morrow, I should prefer to make no pub
lie statement out of respect for the COM
mittee, but / do not think that courtesy
requires me to be silent in the face of
the untrue statements made in some of
the newspapers. -.
Did Not Advise Captain.
when I went on board the Titanic
at Southampton on April 10 1t was my
intention to return by her. came
merely to observe the new vessel. as
I had done in the case Of other yes
sells of our lines.
During the voyage I was q pas
senger. and exercised no greater rights
or privileges than any other passenger.
I was not consulted blythe commander
about the ship. her course. speed, navi-
cation, or her conduct at sea. All
these matters were under the exclusive
control OF the captain. Il saw Capt
Smith only casually, as other pas
sengers did: was never in his room
I was never on the bridge until after
the accident; I did not sit at his table
in the saloon: I had not visited the
engine room nor gone through the
ship. and did not go or attempt to go
other first cabin passenger did not
have access.
cit is absolutely and unqualifiedly false
that I ever said that / wished that the
Titanic should make speed record or
should increase her daily runs. l deny
absolutely having said to any person that
we would increase our speed in order to
get out Of the ice zone, or any words to
that effect.
"As have already testified. at no time
did the Titanic, during the voyage, attain
her full speed.
1.-THE statement that the White Star
line would receive an additional sum by
way Of bounty, or otherwise, for attain
ing a certain speed Is absolutely untrue.
1.-THE only information I ever received
on the ship that other vessels had sighted
ice was by wireless message received
from the Baltic. which / have already
testified to- This was handed to me by
Capt. Smith without any remark as he
was passing on the passenger deck the
afternoon of Sunday. April IA.