THE DELHI DISASTER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1912, Page 2

THE DELHI DISASTER.

SALVAGE CONTRACT GIVEN OCT. t>BOM Ooa OWN COKBESPONDEN*.] LONDON, 22nd December. All the passengers on board the illfated P. and O. liner Delhi, which went ashore last week on the Moroccan coast, have now been landed, and the work of salving the cargo is proceeding. The gold and silver bullion on board is valued at £300,000, and a sum of one million sterling is mentioned as the total value of the ship's contents. ' The mails havo been saved, so that Anglo-Indians will receive their Christmas parcels, although a little late. The Delhi had on board a large amount of perishable cargo, and a. consignment of motor cars valued at several thousand pounds. As regards the position of the cargo, some curious developments may be expected. There was a good deal of cement on board, and this will be consigned to the bed of the ocean as speedily as possible. In tho solid state which it has now assumed^ its weight has probably increased considerably, and it will materially assist the salvors if they can get rid of the very awkward piece of masonry. Tho directors of the P. and O. Company have decided to salve the Delhi at all costs, and the United Salvage Company have been instructed to undertake the necessary work. The view of the board is that it is desirableso refloat the vessel, even if the expense, should be more than she h actually worth, for by so doing it will be impossible fot hostile critics to refer to the Delhi, hereafter as a wreck. To those not closely in touch with shipping matters this point may appear to be a very small one, b.ut it touches upon a matter of vital importance to those whose business it is to transport by sea passengers, often, as in the present case, of the hignest distinction, for long distances. The great ambition of all such undertakings is to maintain a clean xecord in the matter of wrecks, or, in fact^ of any other accidents. In the case oMhe s.s. China, another P. and O. vessel, which went ashore at Aden some years ago, the directors pursued a similar course to that now decided upon, and had the vessel refloated, although the expense incurred waa far more than could be justified if viewed strictly on a profit and loss basis. The board consider, however, that by so doing they saved the company from the stigma which might otherwise have at.tacned to it, and they will, therefore, adopt a similar course on the present ocoasion.