New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-21
World Wide Conference
Deals with Question in
Thorough Manner.
LORD MERSEY TELLS
OF THE AGREEMENTS
Says Possibility of Totally De.
structive Accident Remains
and Warns Captains.
lbs Cable TO The Trlbune.l

London, Jan. 21.-A convention which
marks an era i'm the history of mer-
chant shipping of the world was signed
IN London yesterday. II embodies I'M
portant conclusions reached by the In
ternational Conference on the Safety
Of Life at Sea. which assembled in No
vember on the invitation Of the Brit
ish government
The main results Of this new agree
ment among the great maritime ma
tions are as follows
An international service under the
control of the United States for pur-
poses Of ice patrol and ice observation
and the destruction Of derelicts in the
North Atlantic: provision for increas-
ing the safety Of vessels by SUBDIVISION
into a number OF main watertight com
partments and bulkheads 10 prevent
the spread Of fire; means Of escape
from watertight compartments; double
bottoms: a survey Of new and existing
vessels. wireless telegraphy apparatus
on all merchant vessels engaged in in
ternational voyages and having on
board fifty persons or more. with con-
tinuous wireless watch wherever such
is deemed useful: lifeboats or equiva-
Tents for all persons on board
Pontoons and life RATS are men
toned as an auxiliary equipment, and
the scale Is laid down for proportion or
crew competent TO handle the boats
and RATS. The carriage Of dangerous
goods is forbidden and an adequate
system of lighting in all ships required.
After the convention was signed yes
terday the Right Hon. sydney Charles
Buxton, president OF the Board or
Trade. eulogized the work Of LORD
Mersey and the delegates and revealed
the interest that had been taken in
conference by the King and Queen or
England and the German Emperor
Senator j. Hamilton Lewis and Judge
Alexander. delegates from the United
States. expressed the warmest appre-
citation Of the results achieved by the
and urged the effect that
such an international effort on behalf
of humanity must have on the cause
of general peace. Judge Alexander de-
clared that the regulations for con-
struction are the most important part
Of the convention.
aclF ~
greater security for ships at sea and
their passengers was dealt with In
thorough manner by the international
Conference on Safety at Sea which came
TO an end to-day when the delegates sent
by fourteen nations signed a convention
LAYING down regulations for the future.
United States Senator j. Hamilton
Lewis. whom Lord Mersey called on TO
speak in behalf Of the President and Sen
ate, said:
MY DISTINGUISHED chief, President VIII
son. and the American Congress VIII
gladly accord this document its just place
by their appreciation and approval De
cause OF the humanity ii represents ana
of the nrInciple Of peace and good VIII
il establishes. The measure agreed 10
this day opens an era Of Cancellation VIC
tween the nations OF the New World ana
the Old. and if followed bids farewell 10
the antagonsms Of nations and the ehmi-
ties OF peoples.
Senator Lewis feared that propriety Tor
hade the boast that my country Is the
greatest I'm the world bat he could at
leaet assert that none was greater. Inc
sunreme greatness OF Americans, he saio'
Law in their effort toward the settlement
of all controversies of nations by peaceiul
methods.
Lord Mersey's Speech,
m,r International service" Lord Mersey
said lis 10 be established by the nations
chiefly interested for the purpose OF an
ice natrol and ice observation, as wei as
the destruction Of derelicts in the North
Atlantic. II IS to be under the control OF
the United States. This service is 10 take
over and continue the work done by the
two vessels employed by the United States
in 1el2-'13 in locating ice, in determining
its limits TO the south, the east ana the
west. and in keeping In touch win " DIS
il moves southwark, in order that vessels
NAV be kept Informed by wlreles teleg-
raphy Of its position.
"The service will also continue the DUTY
NJ dealing with dangerous dereIcts east
Of a line drawn from Cape sable TO lat
itude 81 north, longitude 70 west. Inc
.,aters to the west of this line will con-
tinue TO be watched by the United states
THE duty is also imposed on all ship
masters to report the presence OF danger
ous ice and derellcts and a code mas
been prepared 10 facilitate this reportihs'
When ice is reported on or near the track
q shin must proceed during the night at
moderate speed or alter its course so as
TO clear the danger zone.
"An international code for urgent ana
important signals has been adopted.
The most difficult point this commit
tee had TO deal with was the division or
ships into watertight compartments. The
convention provides that the degree or
eafetv should increase I'm a regular and
continuous manner with the length or
vessels ard that vessels shall be as eff
hciently subdivided as possible, having
regard 10 the services for which they are
intended. II is also explicitly stated that
the requirements imposed by the conven-
ton are minimum requirements.
Important Subjects Dealt With.
Among the most important subjects
dealt with under the heading OF construc-
ton Lord Mersey mentioned bulkheads
for the prevention of the spread OF fire.
means OF escape from watertight com
partments. requirements as 10 The
strength OF bulkheads and decks. the re