LATER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11847, 19 July 1893, Page 3

LATER.

Lopdon, July 18. At the court martial, the captain of H.M.S. Camperdown stattd that when the danger of the collision with H.M.S. Victoria was first observed, RearAdmiral Markham gave orders " full Bpeed astern." The order was, however, only partially obeyed, owing to a defect in a telegraph register in the engine room. Captain Bourke stated that the diameter of the Victoria's turning circle was just under 600 yds with extreme helm, but required 800 yds with ordinary helm. Captain Bourke, yielding to the pressure of Bear-Admiral Seymour, admitted that he twice advised Admiral Tryon but without success to increase the distance between the two linos of ships. A lso that afterwards when the turning signals had been hauled down and the Victoria had swung two points with extreme helm he repeatedly told the Admiral that they wjre too close, and begged him to do something. Thrice he asked leave of the Admiral to reverse the port screw, and beforehia consent was given the Victoria had turned eight pointß. Captain Bourke added that without further order he reversed both screws, but the collision took place before the speed of the warship had been materially checked. Only four minutes, he states, intervened between the hauling down of the turning signal and the collision, and when the collision was impending, Admiral Tryon hailed the Camperdown to go astern. He declared that it was Lieutenant Heath and not Admiral Tryon who gave the orders to the men to sare themselves. In concluding his evidence, Captain Bourke justified the reticence he hnj observed out of loyalty to his dead chief.