THE TITANIC DISASTER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 19, 8 May 1912, Page 2

THE TITANIC DISASTER.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —"Punch,” in its issue of October 18th, 1890, in a ghastly cartoon, drew attention to the dangers that threatened the Newfoundland fishing boats from the jjraijiee of steamers racing at high speed through those fog-clouded waters. The warning is no less necessary now’ than then. But all such warnings are forgotten under the stress of modern-day competition, and the reckless race for wealth. But there is a precaution against collision at sea in ice-strewn waters that I do not see referred to in the inquiries relating to the Tianie. 1 refer to the subject of searchlights. It is a puzzle to me that such a simple, inexpensive, and effective safeguard is not in as general use in the mercantile marine as in the navy. Should not the use of a searchlight be made compulsory on all large steamers on very dark nights, especially when travelling through a field of floating and uncharted rocks — for that is what an icefield amounts to? If this were the law. there would be no risk of its being evaded as is invariably the ease in the matter of lifeboats, etc., when once the excitement that follows upon a great disaster has passed aw;ay and is forgotten. For, if the searchlights, ordered by regulation, were not burning on a dark night, every passenger would know that the law’ was being broken. If the look-outs on the Titanic, as stated in the press, thrice reported to the ehief-offieer (Mr. Murdoch) the presence of an iceberg—a report which, it seems, he discredited —how easy to have settled the question by turning on the searchlight! Had this been done, there would have been no disaster.—l am. etc.. MARSDEN COCKERILL. The Vicarage, Ormondville, April 30.