The Detroit times., 1912-05-28
SMITH FLAYS CAPT.
LORD FOR NEGLECT
tcontinusa from page one,.


steamship company, was uttered by
the Michigan senator, but he caustic-
ally criticised the White Star line for
its action In Withholding news OF the
disaster, received. he said. sixteen
hours before 1t was reluctantly di-
vulged.
In eloquent terms, the chairman de-
picted the folly OF sending out the
greatest ship afioat without sufficient
tests, a strange crew and no drills or
discipline. The Titanic, he said. was
following the proper course. although
one known to be dangerous at that
season, but the seped was gradually
and continually increased until the
maximum was the death blow.
Rebuke for those in half-filled life
boats who "stod by" and refused aid
to struggling drowning swimmers IN
til all the noise had ceased" was
voiced
The report say that rigid laws to
more adequately protect passengers
on steamships are needed at once.
Senator Smith, In a story published In
The Times last week. outlined plan
for necessary reforms, not only IN
steamship equipment, but in the wire
less system.
Upon that broken hull" the sen
ator concluded, news VOWS were TAX
en-, new fealty expressed, old love re-
neewd, and those who had been de-
voted In life went proudly and defiant
ly on the last life pilgrimage to death
together. In such heritage we must
feel ourselves more intimately related
to the sea than ever before. and hence
forth II will send back TO us on its
rising, the cheerful salutations from
those we have lost"
Senator Smiths speech follows:
We shall leave to the honest judg-
ment OF England its painstaking chas-
tisement OF the British Board OF Trade.
to whose laxity OF regulation and hasty
Inspection the world is largely indcbt-
ed for this awful fatality or con-
tributing causes there were very many:
In the face OF warning signals, speed
was increased and messages OF dan
ger seemd To stimulate her to action
rather thar To persuade her to Tear.
AZ noon on that fatal sunday the
steamship Baltic warned her OF Ice
within i've miles OF her track and near
the place where the accident occurred;
at o'clock In the afternoon and
again, an hour before the accident,
whom hut n low miles away. the steam
ship California signaled the Titanic
TO beware OF danger. which her oper-
atoc CURLY acknowledged. the same
evening the Titenic transmitted TO the
hydr0gIa phic office In Washington a
message from the steamship America,
saying she had passed two large Ice
/ bergc" near the track OF the tll-fated
ship In the tace OF these warnings.
each revolution OF her engine marked
at the moment OF the collision her
highest speed OF PAN miles per hour.
I, The Titanic rushed onward on her
true ccurse-one recognized as appro-
pirate and agreed upon BY mariners
as the international highway for west
bound vessels. yet dangerous at this
season OF tie year. wheR the Labra-
dor current may be bearing vast masses
OF ice across the track OF ships-scores
of these towering glaciers planted
themselves in the very pathway or
this shin ana were SO large and so
numerous that, In the absence or fog.
they should have been easily discerni-
BILE by the lookout, who says In his
testimony that IL he had been sup
piled with glasses. such as he had
been accustomed TO on the Oceanic and
on this vessel between Belfast and
Southampton, but which Were denied
him by Second officer Lightoller be-
tween southampton and the place OF
this accident. ne could have seen the
iceberg With which this ship collidcd
soon enough TO get out OF the way"
One OF these icebergs was nearly 200
feet above the level OF the sea. with
den beneath the surface. They are
composed OF Ice and earth and rock.
and old sailors OF the coast OF New
/ foundland usually give them n wide
berth Land has been formed by these
deposits and icebergs have frequently
grounded in 20 fathoms OF water with
protruding spires more than a 100 feet
In height AS they go sonthward their
4 influence OF spring often causes eN-
pios.ons in the ice. which frequently
scrve 10 warn sailors OF danger; some
times tho drift OF field ice, led by n
great berg. has been known o convoy
| schooncrs IN a calm. while shipErecke ed
4 sailors have dfif.cd hundreds 0( miles
i In safety upon the Irregular sOrface
OF the Ice. Skillful steamship finds
!, little difficulty In avoiding these OBJ
Hacles and those most familiar with
tho North Atlantic are usually alert at