The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-17
TITANIC CARRIED
 TWENTY L|FEbOATS Question of Number Carried
 Being Discussed
  WILL INVESTIGATE
Declare It Would Be Impossible To Carry Enough Boats To Accommo- ; date All Passengers - Was
 Titanic Warned of Bergs?

London. April 16-In response to a tel | egram of inquiry as to the number of boats carried by the Titanic, and how many persons they would accommodate, the White Star company at Liverpool sent the following message:
 The Titanic had 20 boats. which is in excess of official requirements | The question of the number of boats carried by steamers has been widely dis cussed. It appears the board of trade regulations permit a reduction by half ! in the number of boats, rafts and buoy ant apparatus carried when the ship is efficiently provided with water tight com partments: but this concession does not apply to life jackets and similar appli- ances.
 Will Be Strict Inquiry
 According to some experts 1t would be an impossibility to carry sufficient num- | Der of boats to accommodate all on board the mammoth liners, or if carried, that it would be next to impossible to man and provision them. It cannot be doubted, however, that the disaster will lead to a strict inquiry by the board of | trade into this matter, and a revision of the regulations
 | This question has been under discus sion for some time by the advisory com mittee, composed of prominent ship own CTS, and the board of trade committed, and certain recommendations have been prepared which have not yet been made public.
 | The Titanic was fitted with electrically controlled water tight compartments. Therefore, these should have been imme- dately closed from the bridge unless, as surmised, the collision so damaged the electrical apparatus as to render this im- possible. or the vessels side was torn away by an iceberg.
 Large Crowds Haunt Offices
 At the White Star offices in London and Southampton late tonight large crowds are waiting in the greatest anx- iety for further lists. Many pathetic scenes were witnessed In one street in Southampton every house bad a bread winner aboard the Titanic. The mayor of Southampton has opened relief fund for those left dependent and has appealed to the lord mayor of London to cooperate.
 The sinking of the Titanic, following so closely the wreck of the Delhi, Oceana and other big vessels, has caused con sternation among the marine underwrit- CTS. It will be long before the full effect in insurance of various kinds at Lloyds is known and many underwriters and syndieates may be hard hit
 Several insurance men, questioned on tho subject. declined to commit them selves to any definite opinion. but seemed to think there would be a movement in the direction of higher rates of insur- ance Asked whether this would prove a setback to the building of huge yes sels, one member of Lloyds said it de- pended on the nature of the details of the disaster given by the survivors.
 Instructions were issued today that all Cunard steamships would follow the southern route, owing to the ice.
 The board of trade regulations re- ouire that a vessel of 10000 tons shall carry a minimum of 16 boats. There are no regulations applying to vessels of greater tonnage but another rule pro- vides that where boats do not furnish accommodation for all passengers on the steamer additional wood or metal collapsible boats or life rafts shall pc carried. The regulations require that the capacity of the boats shall be $500 cubic feet. The Titanic's boats had a capacity of 9702 cubic feet each
 It is stated in Belfast that the Ti- tanic carried 14 life boats each ac- commedating 65 persons, two cutters and a number of collapsible boats or rafts.
 Mrs. Wildener's Pearls Insured
 Mrs Widener's three pearl necklaces were insured for s750,000, the policy stipuiating that they all should be worn by her on the voyage.
 Most of the morning papers editor tally discuss the questions of competi- tion in building huge liners their speed and lifesaving appliances. They urge ! that It is advisable for the board of trade to take action, especially in tho direction of the regulation of the humber of boats for steamers above 1 10000 tons so as to meet modern re- lquirements. There appears to be a gen eral idea that the collapsible life boats and rafts carried by the Titanic prob ably were sucked down in the vortex of the sinking liner.
 The London papers are either open | ing a relief fund for the dependents of the Titanic's crew or are urging the lord mayor to open public relief fund as national duty.
 Was Titanic Warned?
 Havre, April 16.-The French liner La