The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-31
BRITISH REPORT ON
TITANIC DISASTER
Collision Due to Excessive
Speed of Liner
ISMAY is BLAMELESS
Judgment Recommends More Water
tight Compartments in Seagoing
Ships-Other Reforms-Com-
ments on Courts Findings
ISMAY is BLAMELESS

London, July so.-The judgment of the
British board of inquiry into the dis
aster of the White Star liner Titanic
announced today. concludes that the col
lision of the Titanic with the iceberg
was due to the excessive speed at which
the ship had been navigated; that a
proper watch was not kept; that the
ships boats were properly lowered, but
that arrangements for manning them were
insufficient; that the Leyland liner Cali
fornian might have reached the Titanic
IL she had attempted to do SO; that the
track followed Was reasonably safe with
proper vigilance, and that there. was no
discrimination against third class pas
sengers in the saving of life. The court
of Inquiry exonerates J. Bruce Ismay,
managing director of the White Star
line, and Sir Cosmo Duf-Gordon. one
OF the passengers. from any charges of
improper conduct.
The Judgment recommends more wa
tertight compartments in sea-going ships,
the provision of lifeboats for all on board
and more efficient drills OF the crews.
as well as a better lookout.
Much of the judgment is highly tech
meal In 1t there was no argument and
no direct reference to the inquiry by
the committee of the United States Sen
ate
Lord Mersey said it was not the bus
mess OF the court to inquire into attacks
on the moral conduct of Sir Cosmo Duff
Gordon and J. Bruce Ismay, but silence
might be understood. He said:
The very gross charge against Sir
Duff-Gordon that he bribed the boatmen
to row away from drowning people is
unfounded At the same time I think If
he had encouraged the men to return
to where the Titanic had foundered they
probably would have made an effort to do
so and could have saved some lives.
''The attack on ]. Bruce 1smay resolved
itself into the suggestion that, occupy
ing the position of managing director of
the line, some moral duty was imposed
upon him to wait on board until the
vessel foundered.
Il do not agree. Mr. Ismay, after as
sisting many of tbe passengers. found
the last boat on the starboard side Of
the Titanic actually being lowered. No
other people were there at the time. There
was room for him and he jumped in
Had he not done so he would merely have
added one more life to the number lost"
Washington, July Ex-senator William
Alden Smith, chairman of the Senate
committee which investigated the steam
ship Titanic disater, today made the
following comment Lord Mersey's
court inquiry:
III am glad to know that upon many
of the points the Senate committee ana
nr6 ~ Il
are in accord. The British court. as well
as the American committee. justly crit
icised the speed of the Inflated ship as
it approached the icefield, of which Cap
tain Smith was fully advised.
THE fnexplieable conduct of the officers
of the Californian must have strongly
impressed the British court.
"As to Mr.. ]. Bruce Ismay, managing
director of the White Star line, and Sir
Cosmo Duff-Gordon, l do not desire 10
express any opinion. Both are promi-
nent British subjects and 1t would not
be becoming in me to critcise their con-
duct. What the British report says of
Mr.. Ismay might have been said of Cap
tain Smith, First Officer Murdoch and
Mr.. Andrews. the builder of the ship, who
evidently took a different view of their
responsibilities
Naval constructors here familiar with
the sinking of the Titanic expressed in
terest In the report of the findings of the
British board Of trade as reported today.
They are earnest for the construction of
O water tight deck which would involve
only the outlay of little more money.
They believe this deck should be slight
ly above the water line rather than the
topmost deck. The reason for this is that
the water from the open sea would only
I each this deck and to allow 1t to fill to
the topmost deck would add extra
weight on the compartments affected.
Naval constructors believe the board
of trades report added little to the find
ings of the Senate committee.