New-York tribune., 1912-04-20
MASTERS NOT FORCED TO
MAKE SPEED, THEY SAY
Continued from first page.

speed 1Or tne lltdnlC Is diuiost iuh SPS0N
for the Carpathia."
DO YOU think the Titanic would have
been afloat to-day If she had been run
ming at half speed?'
Yes and no If she sidewiped the
submerged shelf at half speed 1t would
have ripped her just the same. On the
other hand, II she had been down to.
say. seven or eight knots, she would not
have answered her helm as quickly, and
possibly would have hit the Iceberg
souarely head on. This would have
smashed her through probably two bulk
heads forward. I doubt If her damage
would have been greater than that"
why do all steamships go at full
speed?"
Because they were built for that
speed and are expected to make the time
allotted them to get from port TO port.
Safety and slow time are all right but
q captain can't afford to come in late
continually. 1t is much easier TO keep
away from ice than to waste time wig
Cling through It,"
Emil L. Eoas, resident director and
general manager Of the Hamburg Amer
lean Line, was asked yesterday il tho
captains Of his service were ever sub
iect TO orders in the matter Of making
time by those higher in authority. He
said:
"On our line the master is absolutely
in command and his judgment as TO the
~ lie
gators point Of view is supreme.
He Is the one who is responsible be-
fore the law, and in case Of any trouble
he and no one else must answer"
Boas Gives Views on Speed.
Concerning high speed of great ships
at sea, Mr.. Boas had this to say: For
the last seven years we have built ships
OF moderate sreed and sought to pro-
vide the highest degree Of safety and
comfort. I do not believe. however. that
there is additional danger in crossing
the ocean at a certain rate Of speed
which has been obtained by the fast
ships of different lines. as long as the
navigator strictly observes the rules
which are laid down for the sake Of
safety"
Mr. Boas is desirous that the Presi-
dent Of the United States should call an
international navigation congress which
would bring about uniformity Of laws
relative to the construction, maintenance
and navigation Of ocean steamships.
The Hamburg American Line has al
ways provided every possible device for
safety and has at all times gone far be-
yond the requirements Of construction
details" Mr.. Boas continued. THE Ger
man regulations governing the number
of boats and all other safety devices are
more rigid than those of most countries,
and the Hamburg American Line has
always complied with these laws and
has, as a rule, provided more than the
law requires.
Urges international Congress.
There is at present an international
agreement among the principal seafaring
nations, according to which there is re-
ciprocal recognition Of certificates issued
in each country with reference to inspec-
ton of boilers, lifesaving apparatus, etc.
but. as there is so great a divergence in
the laws OF the different countries re-
garding these matters. I respectfully
submit to the President Of the United
States that he call an international
navigation congress to consider all these
questions and arrive at uniform legisla-
ton with which the steamers plying be-
tween the different countries can COM
ply"
Naval men are not prone to criticise
the actions of captains in the merchant
marine, as beyond the elemental princi-
pIes of navigation there is nothing In
common between their methods of run
ming ships.
This difference in conditions under
which ships are operated was pointed
out Yesterday afternoon. when an officer
% high rank In the service was asked at
the navy yard how far merchant cap
tain would be justified In hazarding the
I,ues ,ntrusted to his care In an attempt
% obey instructions from his owners or
.ho,r agents to make a spectacular voy-
I
age.
you must know" was the answer.
chat outside the main principles OF
rav,gation navy practice will not COM
nare with the merchant service. A navy
cantain sent to certain place with
single ship, under orders to get there as
soon as possible, has free hand as to
"a means. II he is part Of
anodron he is under the orders of the
te'raI hut even then he Is. on his own
a.,n as the merchant captain Is on his.
supreme.
Tho Captain 10 Supreme
.r,o law of the sea is that when the
pilot is dropped the captain I'm, ol ,uaser. sne Is
aoove o..,n,iity for his actions to author