Page 158 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

18818. I will put it this way; we will take it in stages. As I understand, the bulkheads go to Deck E? - They are shown on the plan. 18819. (The Commissioner.) Are you a ship constructor? - No, I am not. The Commissioner: I think you had better wait until the evidence of the expert comes. You are suggesting to him, as I understand, that the bulkheads ought to have been carried higher? Mr. Edwards: Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: I can perfectly understand that. Mr. Edwards: If I may say so, my Lord, with respect, as I understand the position from this witness, it is this - that the plans of the “Titanic” are submitted to him and his co-directors, and they, in the last resort, decide what is to be the character of the ship. The Witness: In conjunction with the shipbuilders. Mr. Edwards: And my question is as to whether the directors, when deciding upon those plans, did direct their attention at all to the question of the effect that those plans, if adopted, was likely to have upon the safety of the people who were to be carried in the ships. The Attorney-General: I mean to call a witness who can answer that. The Commissioner: All I am suggesting is this. This gentleman is not the constructor of the ship, nor is he a naval architect, as far as I understand; and I think it would be better if you waited until witnesses of that character are called before asking these questions. Mr. Edwards: With respect, my Lord, I agree. The Commissioner: You are right to put the questions, but I suggest to you that you will probably find some witnesses far better qualified to answer them. The Attorney-General: I prefaced the questions I put to Mr. Ismay by saying that I was not going to ask him questions on construction, because Mr. Sanderson is going to be called, and Mr. Wilding will be called, and they are the gentlemen who will answer any questions, with regard to the suggestions of my friend. I understood that Mr. Ismay, although he knows something about the plans, was not the gentleman who could probably deal with construction. 18820. (Mr. Clement Edwards.) I am obliged to the Attorney-General. (To the Witness.) I understand you to say that there are no printed instructions issued to your captains? - In regard to what? 18821. In regard to the sailing directions? - No; they have a book of general instructions. Every captain and officer has a book of these general instructions. 18822. (The Commissioner.) That is the red book, is it not? - Yes. The Commissioner: Have you had a copy of it, Mr. Edwards? Mr. Edwards: I have not, my Lord. The Commissioner: I think you ought to have one. 18823. (Mr. Edwards - To the Witness.) Is that the book to which you refer? - Yes. Mr. Edwards: I do not think it has been formally put in. The Commissioner: I think it was not; it was handed up to me by Sir Robert Finlay. Sir Robert Finlay: I think it was on the second day of the Enquiry. The Commissioner: This is Ship’s Rules and Uniform Regulations. Mr. Edwards: Perhaps Mr. Ismay will formally produce it to the Court. 18824. (The Commissioner - To the Witness.) This is the book that you call the rules issued to officers? - That is right. 18825. (Mr. Clement Edwards.) Just one other question. You stated your view was - and I presume it was the view of your Company - that the “Titanic” was unsinkable? - We thought she was. 18826. I am only going to ask you one question upon that, and that is this: What was the ground upon which you based that belief? - Because we thought she would float with two of the largest compartments full of water, and that the only way that those compartments were at all