SEA TRADITION
GOING DOWN WITH THE SHIP.
LIVES TOO VALUABLE.
EMPIRE’S NEED FOR SEAMEN
(Received This Day, 1.40 p.m.) .SYDNEY, This Day
Whether the Admiralty should issue instructions compelling captains of sinking ships to try to save themselves instead of conforming blindly to the tradition of going down with the ship has been raised by the circumstances surrounding the death of Captain John Reed, of the Western Prince. Rescued passengers stated: “We could easily have' found a place for him in our boat, but he said: ‘enough in it’ and refused to come.”
The “Daily Express” comments that Captain Reed was an able captain and his life was of great value. Britain has too few such captains to lose and if the traditional unwritten rule can be responsible for such a tragedy then the quicker the Admiralty declared the practice of the rule should be discontinued the better. When everyone but the captain left the ship there was a olear opportunity for him to save himself. He should do so rather than rob the Empire of his valuable services by courageously, but misguidedly, standing on the bridge as the unfilled lifeboats moved away.
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Bibliographic details
Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 60, 20 December 1940, Page 6
Word Count
193SEA TRADITION Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 60, 20 December 1940, Page 6
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