Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-23
sAFETY-Ar.sEA RULES


SEA RULES
international Conference Adopts Resu.
iations at Conference in London.
Londan, Jan. 22.-The task of securing
greater security for ships at sea and
| their passengers was dealt with in
thorough manner by the international
| conference on safety at sea, which
gates Of fourteen nations signed a con.
vention laying down regulations for
the future
Lord Mersey. the president. in max
ing the closing speech, referred in q
general way to all the subjects which
had been discussed and on which
agreements had been reached by the
delegates.
The president told Of arrangements
for ice patrols. ice observation. report
ing Of derelicts. regulation Of the speed
Of vessels during foss. lighting Of
ships. life saving apparatus. wireless
code signals. water tight compart
ments, hre prevention, double bottoms.
drills and Inspections and steering ap..
paratus. He did not give out the fulr'
text Of the convention, which first must
be submitted to the various govern
ments.
The convention provides that all
merchant vessels when engaged in
international or colonial voyages,
whether steamers or sailing vessels
and whether carrying passengers or
not, must be equipped with wireless
telegraphy. If they have on board fifty
persons or more. except where that
number Is increased owing to causes
beyond the masters control.
The contracting states. however.
have the discretion to make suitable
exceptions in certain cases. the most
important OF which are vessels which
on their voyages do not go more than
$50 miles from the nearest land.
A continuous watch for wireless
purposes must be kept on all vessels
fitted with wireless biography as soon
as the government or state to which
the vessel belongs is satisfied such a
watch Is useful for purposes of saw
ing life at sea-
Wireless apparatus must have a
range Of at least 100 miles and an
| emergency apparatus placed IN. the
safety place unless the main installa-
ton Is in the highest part Of the ship
in conditions OF the greatest safety.
The master OF ship in distress
is to have the right to call for as
sistance among vessels which have
answered his appeal from those vessels
which he thinks are best able to rem
der him assistance. The other vessels
may then proceed on their voyage.
The convention lays down that there
must be accommodation in lifeboats or
their equivalents for all persons on
board a ship.
The convention further provides
that there must be minimum num-
Der of members Of the crew who are
competent to handle boats and RATS
and these men must hold certificate Of
competency issued under government
authority.
The carriage Of dangerous goods is
forbidden and each administration is
to issue warnings as to what goods are
dangerous.
For detecting fire an organized sys-
tenn Of patrols is called for and the
regulations require adequate provi-
sion for extinguishing fire and for the
organization Of crews for fire and boat
drills.
The ships Of contracting states
which comply with the requirements
Of the convention shall be furnished
with certificates which shall be ac-
copied by all states as having the same
value as certificates issued by them to
their own ships.
Provision is also made for the in
terchange between governments Of
laws and regulations relating to safe
ty Of life at sea and for the imposition
by each government Of penalties in
case of neglect to comply with the
provisions Of the convention.
Other countries may come into the
convention up to Jan. 81. It comes
into force on July 1. 1915. after rati-
fication by the different states.
Lord Merser summarized the prin-
cipal provisions of the convention. He
said:
"An international service is to be es-
tablished by the nations chiefly inter-
ested. for the purpose Of an ice patrol
and ice observations, as well as the
destruction Of derelicts. in the north
Atlantic. It Is to be under the con-
troll of the United States.
1.-THE duty also is imposed on all
ship masters to report the presence
Of dangerous ice and derelicts. and a
code has been prepared to facilitate
this reporting
w uen ICE ~ IePOEtSO vi VI near lAC
tract ship must proceed during the
night at moderate speed or alter its
course so as to clear the danger zone.
IAN international code for urgent
and important signals has been adopt
ed"
The members Of the American dele
cation, with the exception OF Senator
J. Hamilton Lewis Of illinois. Rear
Admiral Washington I. Caps. and
Mr.. Mcbride. will sail for the United
States on the Olympic tomorrow.
Running to Seed.
Dolly" he cried, bursting into the
house one afternoon, there's some
asparagus Just ready for eating. Come!
You shall gather the first fruits from
our garden
There was nothing she would like to
have done more. But, alas! asparagus
gathering was not one OF her strong
points. In fact. she didn't even know
what the stun looked like In its mature
al state. So, anxious not TO give her
self away" she decided to be cautious.
mo. John" she said; you'd better
- 4 - $780, 49, =