Evening star., 1928-11-15
Now for the Vestris Facts.

Now for the Vestris Facts.
Memories of the Titanic disaster of
over sixteen years ago are revived by
the Vestris horror at sea. Despite wide
differences of conditions, there is cer-
tain likeness between the two cataS-
trophies. Both we're avoidable and in
both there was evident mismanagement
after the fact to cause increase in the
casualties. In both the radio played
an important part in summoring aid,
and but for it the losses, appalling as
they were, would have been far greater.
In the case of the Titanic the ship was
driven at full speed into field of peril,
where it was known that icebergs were
present In the case of the Vestris the
ship was kept on her way after she had
begun to take in water and to list
dangerously, in heavy storm, and aid
was not summoned until a very short
time before she sank.
In 1912, following the Titanic dis
aster, there was protracted inquiry.
A committee of Congress, despite the
fact that the shin was of foreign reg
istry and sank in midocean. undertook
to develop the facts through investiga-
ton, with reference to the question of
culpability OH the part of the ownership
and management. Now, the Vestris
disaster is to be investigated. Already
an inquiry has been started by the Fed
eral district attorney in New York.
There Is a proposal that the Department
of Commerce conduct another inquiry,
and the inevitable suggestion of q con-
gressional investigation has been
broached.
It Is vitalIy important that the facts
regarding the Vestris' sinking should be
ascertained at once, while the survivors
and witnesses are available. There are
certain specific accusations. One is
that the ships boats were in bad con-
dition, leaky and improperly provisioned
and incapable of being safely launched
at sea. Another Is that the cargo was
not properly slowed, with the result that
it shifted during the storm and
crashed about and knocked holes In
bulkheads and caused leaks. Another
is that the rubber flanges of the coal
ports had disintegrated so that the
ship took in great quantities of water
in the heavy seas. There are details of
equipment and management that can
be determined with prompt research.
As to the question Of judgment in the
sending out Of danger signals, which
were delayed for perhaps as many as
twelve hours after the ship was actually
In peril, there can be no absolute rule
Of guidance. The Judgment of the
ships master determines. It Is his duty
to keep his ship going as long as he
deems it safe. He is faced by the laws
Of salvage in manner to induce him
to avoid as long as possible the call for
help that viii entail heavy loss upon
his company. At the same time he Is
responsible for the lives of his pas
sengers and crew. AS between the
money loss of possible salvage service
and the loss of life there can never be
room for hesitation or doubt as to the
proper course of procedure.
1t is evident now that Capt Carey
made a mistake-a ghastly, horrible
mistake. He thought his ship would
weather the storm and right itself and
he delayed his message of distress too
long. He has paid for his blunder with
his life. He has at least been true to
the tradition of the sea in that respect.
But his gallantry Of final bearing does
not compensate for the losses, for the
little children abandoned to the sea, the
women left struggling in the water, the
men who died because somebody blum
dered.
If there was inadequate inspection at
port, giving the ship improperly a cer-
tificate of Seaworthiness. despite disin-
tegrated flanges and undependable life-
boats, somebody In the Steamboat In
spection Service Of the Department of
Commerce is at fault and should be held
responsible. If the owning company did
not itself provide proper safeguards, re-
lying upon the perhaps perfunctory in
spection of the Federal service, it is to
be held accountable. And the penalties
that are administered, if blame is found
to rest upon those who are within the
reach Of the law, should be severe
enough to assure more strict compliance
hereafter with the laws, written and
unwritten, governing seamanship and
marine transportation.