The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-11-14
CONFERENCE
On Safety At Sea Is Now
Being Held

London, Nov. 12-Fourteen great ma
tions are represented by delegates in
the international Conference on Safe
ty at Sea which opened its session
here today and the intense interest
manifested, in the deliberations and
proceedings of this conference, by the
general public and the press, indicates
the Importance attached to this gath
ering. If the Titanic disaster proved
powerful agent in bringing about
general understanding between the
maritime nations of the world concern
ing the necessity of certain laws and
their enforcement to insure greater
safety on the sea, the recent Volturno
disaster clearly demonstrated other
defects the correction of which equal
ly demands prompt attention and in
telligent action.
1t is impossible to predict with any
degree of certainty how long the con-
ference will be in session. but the gen
eral opinion seems to be that there is
enough work to be done to keep the
conference busy for month. The dele
cation representing the United States
government had large share in the
activity which led to the calling of this
conference and will probably take the
initiative in proposing some important
suggestions for the consideration of
the delegates.
The conference was called for the
purpose of considering general ques-
tions of safety appliances, the man
ming of lifeboats, the efficiency of
crews, the prevention Of fire, the in
production of wireless outfits on sea
going vessels and other matters hav-
ing direct or indirect bearing upon
the safety at sea- The necessity of
having a sufficient number of lifebats
and safety appliances on board of a
big ship was forcibly demonstrated by
the Titanic disaster and since that ca
tastrophe every maritime nation has
passed laws and regulations requiring
chips to carry sufficient number Of
taught double lesson. 1t demonstrate
ed the necessity of crews efficient in
launching and handling life boats and
the Importance of having adequate ap-
pliances for the suppression of fire and
crews thoroughly drilled in the use
of these appliances.
Both these problems will be intro
duced for consideration by the Ameri-
can delegates who will present a SER
les of important suggestions aiming
at the solution of these problems. The
United States Navy Department has
recently been experimenting with a
new device for releasing and launch
ing life boats so as to prevent their
being dashed against the sides of the
ship and as the tests are said to have
been extremely satisfactory it Is quite
probable that the adoption of a similar
device upon passenger-carrylng ships
will be recommended
Another important recommendation
10 be made by the United States dele
CATION refers to the subject OF radio
equipments The delegates will sug-
gest the general enforcement of law
requiring all passenger-carrying steam.
chips to be provided with wireless out.
fits capable of sending messages to a
distance of at least 100 nautical miles
All steamers built to carry twenty-five
or more passengers or having "A crew
OF sixty men shall be considered as
passenger steamers. They will also
suggest that two first grade operators
should be required on ships maintain
ing constant service and carrying 10C
or moro passengers, For cargo boats
one first or second grade operator and
enc cargo operator or watcher Is tc
be recommended. Other recommend
ations will refer to the raising of the
standard Of efficiency of the crews or
all passenger steamships and the re
quirement of adequate fre.nghting ap
pliances and the systematic drilling Of
Me crews in the use OF the appliances
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