Evening star., 1928-11-22

Final judgment as to responsibility
for the sinking of the steamship Vestris
and the appalling tragedies which ac-
companied it is withheld by the Ameri-
can press pending the shedding Of fur
ther light on vital questions involved.
On the face of survivors stories and first
| testimony in the Federal investigation,
there was fearful negligence and In
competence, yet the Philadelphia Bulle-
tin expresses a view widely held when
it recalls the consistently fine record OF
Capt. Carey" who perished with his
, ship, and adds:
1.-The terrible disaster to the Vestris
is one of those affairs in which the
precise and complete facts may be diff
cult to determine and in which, there
fore, every consideration of fair play
demands that judgment be not passed
with haste.'
Special attention is given in news
paper comment to the charge OF made
quate inspection by United States off,
cialS before this British vessel sailed
from New York on her last voyage.
Says the New York Sun: THE in
spectors let the Vestris sail. Now 1t is
charged that the hold leaked, that the
tight compartments were defective, and
that the lifeboats leaked and depended
upon apparatus that would not work.
If these charges are true" continues
the Sun, "the United States steamboat
inspectors are culpable" The Roanoke
World-News takes similar attitude, as
serting: Our own steamboat lnspec-
ton service cannot escape some reSpon-
sibility. 1t gave this ship its sailing
papers from New York. The Depart
ment of Commerce must accept share
in the blame for this disaster until full
investigation is made"
X y X \
The Birmingham News comments:
Some one has blundered-thiS surely
must be the verdict of every one who
reads with eyes astrain the accounts of
the loss of the VeStriS. Heroism is here
and in abundance. lighting up the
tragedy with the spirit of Self-sacritice.
PathoS is here, poignant beyond words.
But back of all this pathoS may be dis
cerned imprudence almost unprece-
dented."
The Scranton Times finds 1t de
plorable that every so often disasters of
this kind occur negligence and blunder-
ing of INSPECTORS, owners and COM
tragedy" and this paper considers 1t
unfortunate that Capt. Carey cannot
speak in his own behalf"
Rejoicing in the rescues that were
made. the New York Evening World
says concerning the cause of the trag-
edy: For the whole story we can wait.
In the full telling of this grim tale OF
the sea we may learn how q modern
built passenger ship could possibly have
sprung a leak without collision in a
manner to affect all parts Of its in
terror"
That warning must be taken from
this sudden Sinkin~ of an apparently
Seaworthy steamer Is insisted upon by
the Indianapolis News. which declares
it should arouse a demand that greater
safety precautions be taken in the fu-
ture. The Springfield Republican also
thinks that, "aS was the case with the
Titanic. the loss of the Vestris will have
the effect of making steamship traffic
In general more safe. because there will
at once be new scrutiny of life-Savirg
apparatus and of the standards of
Government inspection. and new at
tentioa to efficient discipline"
y u Y
How much blame must the forces of
nature bear in the sinking of the Ves-
iris? The Duluth Herald calls atten-
tion to the reports of "a stormy time en-
the Atlantic" and the Hamilton Spec
tator is reminded that marvellous as
are the works of man, they fail at times
in the contest with nature. The sea-
that mighty monster'-clains its toll.
In spite of all that human ingenuity
can do" The Syracuse Herald refers
to the high sea and strong winds" and
declares THE crisis. while it lasted.
would h ze been worthy OF the pen Of q