Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-30
EXCESSIVE SPEED
CAUSED D|SA5T TER
Report Of Commission Of In
quiry Into Sinking of
the Titanic.
IS MAY IS JUSTIFIED
Believe Lights Sighted by Californ-
ian Were the Titantic's and Former
Ship Could Have Made Rescues.

London, July 30.-Excessive speed
caused the loss of the Titanic, in the
opinion of Lord Mersey, who, as Chair
man of the English Commission of In
quiry into the disaster, made his re-
port public today.
Arrangements for launching and
manning the great liners lifeboats
were improper, insufficient and mad
equate, his lordship said, and though
the boat drill itself was good, as was
discipline at the time of the wreck,
more lives would have been saved had
the organization been better.
The charge that Sir Cosmo Duff
Gordon bribed the crew of his life
boat to row away from the drowning
was held to be unfourSed.
Managing Director Bruce Ismay of
the White Star Company was under
no moral obligation to remain aboard
the Titanic until the vessel sank, ac-
cording to the commissioners findings,
and had he done so,' the only result
would have been the needless loss of
another life. The handing of the Bal
tics ice message by Captain Smith
to Ismay is held to have been irregu-
lar and Ismay's retention of it i'm
proper. but, under the circumstances,
the commission thinks the incident
had nothing to do with the subsequent
navigatio nof the ship.
The lookout for ice was inadequate,
the report says. Extra lookouts should
have been stationed at the mast head
and at both ends Of the bridge.
The evidence shows, the report con-
tinues, that the practice Of steaming
full speed ahead through an icefield at
night was bad, but under the circum
stances the Commission feels unable
to blame Captain Smith, who, though
he made a grievous mistake, cannot
be held guilty of negligence.
In the commissioners judgment the
third class passengers of the Titanic
were fairly treated. The conduct of
Captain Rostron and the crew of the
Carpathia, in rescuing the Titanic'a
survivors, is commended as admirable.
The Investigators are convinced that
the lights sighted by the Californian
were the Titanic's and the opinion is
expressed that the Californian should
have pushed through the ice without
serious risk and saved many, if not
all. of those on board the sinking ves-
sci. t
Regret is expressed that lifeboat
No. /, from the Titanic, failed to at
tempt rescue Of the drowning when
it could. The commission recommends
the basing of lifesaving accommoda-
tions on. steamships on the number OF
passengers rather than upon the ves-
sells tonnage.
Fire and water-tight door drills, the
recommendation continue, should
be held Immediately after leaving
port and whenever ice has been re-
ported, speed Should be reduced at
night or the imperilled vessels course
altered to take it out OF the path OF
danger.
Recommendation were also made
for an international conference to ag-
rec on regulations for life saving ap-
pliances and wireless equipment,
sight tests for lookouts, police sys-
tenn aboard ship to enforce order and
obedience, and day and night reliefs
of wireless operators.
The board of trades failure to re-
wise life boat regulations since 1894
was declared most culpable, despite
Sir Alfred Chalmers excuses and eX-
plantations.
Lord Mersey is anxious for report
from the committee investigating the
subject, concerning the desirability
of Longitudinal and vertical bulkheads
and water tight decks above the water
line.
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