LOSS OF VESTRIS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 9

LOSS OF VESTRIS.

BRITISH ENQUIRY. COMPLETE EXONERATION. (UKIT3D PBISS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTSIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) LONDON, July 5. The Board of Trade's most protracted maritime enquiry lias concluded concerning the sinking of the liner Vestris. The hearing occupied 40 days, compared with 37 days in connexion with the Titanic disaster. Mr W. N. Raeburn, K.C., for the Board of Enquiry, submitted that there was no evidence of confusion as regarded the launching of the boats. The engineers did not act unreasonably in quitting the stokehold. Captain Carey was apparently the sort oi man well able to deal with such a situation There seemed to have been no lack oi order or discipline, and it was doubtful if an earlier S.O.S. would have made a difference. There was no evidence of a single life being lost through omission to summon help earlier. Mr Raeburn announced that the costs of the enquiry had amounted to over £14,000, without counting the services of the Board of Trade's solicitors and officials or the owners' costs.— "The Times" Cables. [The Lamport and Holt liner Vestris, bound from New York to Buenos Aires. foundered at sea on November 12th last, with the loss of 125 lives. An enquiry held in America was accompanied bv severe strictures on the conduct of the ship's officers and crew, and a hostile Press campaign.]