Evening star., 1934-09-20

All public discussions Of the burning
of the Ward liner MORO Castle, with
great loss of life, carry references to
the equipment of the boat, in the
interest of luxury, and to the de-
liberate moves of the crew, which
some commentators ascribe to the
atmosphere of leisure on the ship.
Approval is given to the suggestion
by President Roosevelt that new legis-
lation should provide for greater fire.
proof qualities in the construction OF
such craft. Delay in giving the alarm
of tire aboard the MORO Castle and
in asking assistance is strongly con-
demned.
Had they sent out the S o S
earlier and ordered the llfeboats
manned, it is likely that every one on
board would have escaped unharmed," l."
observes the Youngstown Vindicator,
while the Macon (Ga) Telegraph
holds that "it seems that there was
gross negligence and mismanagement
even if there were no criminal intent.
The TELEGRAPH concludes: Prom the
testimony it seems at least clear that
half an hour was allowed to elapse
after the discovery of the fire, whichhad
already gained great headWay, before
anv call for assistance was sent out.
although the ship was only a short
distance from the shore and, as 1t
developed, there were many vessels
equipped with wireless, in the I'M
mediate vicinity"
"Obyiously the complete truth has
not been told" says the Indianapolis
star. The Hartford Times agrees that
"had better discipline, better olscre-
tion and better crew morale existed
nossibly few lives would have been
iostp Lack Of adequate fire drill on
the MORO Castle is emphasized oy tne
Ann Arbor Daily News, the Los Anseies
Times and the Miami Herald.
Much of the fire risk on pas
seneer liner" according to the New
Work Times. "is linked with the luxury
to which the President calls atten-
tion How far this meets q real de-
mand on the part of the public II is
hard to say. One line outdoes another
with a lavishness of decoration TO
which probably SO per cent OF ocean
yoyagers are unaccustomed and wnlch
thew associate only with pretentlous
hotels. Fortunately, the interiors are
now simpler, not because there Is less
money to spend on period rooms, but
because of the prevailing mode on
land"
The st. Joseph CMo.) News-Press
advocates fire walls to prevent the
rapid spread of fire" while the Jersey
CITY Journal remarks that wood in
ships is not so dangerous as wooden
heads" The Manchester IN. H)
Union comments: "Fireprooflng of
the great modern liners would mean
to strip them of most of the costly
woodwork and ornamental frippery
which at present make them veritable
sea-going hotels; but the wisdom OF
sacrificing luxury to safety admits OF
no debate. Nor need there necessarily
be any considerable detraction from
the comfort or convenience Of the
passengers"
'The testimony suggests" says the
Morgantown (W. Va Dominion
News, that even more than reforms
and changes in equipment there is
needed an increased emphasis on
training of personnel" The st. Paul
Pioneer Press declares: Modern
grandeur and luxury of ocean travel
have given something to the history
Of the sea, but perhaps it is also de-
stroying something still finer. Pos
sibly it is inevitable that in these
floating palaces, with their maximum
Of safety, speed and comfort, the
morale which is at the basis of the
old maritime traditions must change