New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-21

remained the possibility OF a serious ana
even totally destructive accident. IL was
therefore imperative that captains should
never relax their vigilance on the suppo-
sltion that any vessel was unsuitable. On
the contrary. captains should strive to
add to the safety provided by the vessel
itself that very great increase In safety
which results from prudent and shlful
management and navigation.
The convention provides that all mer-
chant vessels when engaged in interna-
tlonal or colonial voyages. whether steam
ers or sailing vessels and whether carry
ing passengers or not. must be equipped
with wireless telegraphy, II they nave on
hoard nifty persons or more. except where
that number Is increased owing 20 causes
beyond the masters control. The CON
tracing states. however have the discre-
ton 10 make suitable exemptions in GER
tain cases. the most important OF "nich
is in connection with vessels which in the
course % their voyage do not 20 more
than 80 miles from the nearest land
Continuous Wireless Watch.
y continuous NdlfU iDi Nh'a'"r 800
poses must be kept on all vessels htted
with wireless Biography as soon as the
government or state TO which the vessel
belongs is satisfied that such watch IS
useful for purposes OF saving life at sea.
In the mean time the following vessels
are required to maintain continuous
watch in addition to all vessels placed IN
a. oil nv the
radio-telegraphc convention, which IN
cludes all fast passenger steamers-Ves-
sells of more than 10 knots speed when
carry 200 passengers and make voyages
OF more than 500 miles between two con-
sectutive ports. other passenger vessels
during the time they are more than 80
mics from land and still other vessels en-
gagged in the transatlantic trade or whose
voyages take them more than 1000 miles
from land.
Vessels in the second category neverthe-
less are required to keep watch for at
least seven hours a day besides watch
of ten minutes each hour.
The master Of a ship in distress is TO
have the right TO call for assistance
among vessels which have answered his
appeal from those vessels which he thinks
are best able TO render him assistance.
The other vessels may then proceed on
their voyage
The convention lays down that there
must be accommodation in iifeboats or
their equivalents for all persons on board
ship Lifeboats are divided into two
classes. the first OF which comprises the
ordinary open boats and other boats with
fixed sides and the second OF which Is
composed OF boats having the upper parts
OF their sides collapsible.
The convention further provides that
there must be a minimum number or
members Of the crew who are competent
20 handle boats and RATS. For a boat
or raft carrying not more than sixty per-
sons the minimum number of the crew is
fixed at three. with additional numbers
for larger boats or RATS. These men must
hold certificate of competency issued
under government authority
For detecting fire an organized system
OF patrols is called for and the regulations
require adequate provision for extingulsh-
ing fire and for the organization of crews
for fire and boat drills.
All ships are 10 have an adequate sys-
TEN OF lighting, so as to enable passen-
gers TO find their way TO the exits. while
the boat decks also must be we'll lighted.
Provision also is made for the inter-
change between governments OF laws and
regulations relating to safety OF life at
sea, and for the imposition by each gov
eminent OF penalties in case Of neglect TO
comply with the provisions OF the conven-
ton.