Page 161 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

into that boat. The Commissioner: Your point, Mr. Edwards, as I understand is this: That, having regard to his position, it was his duty to remain upon that ship until she went to the bottom. That is your point? Mr. Edwards: Yes, and inasmuch - The Commissioner: That is your point? 18867. (Mr. Clement Edwards.) Frankly, that is so; I do not flinch from it a little bit. But I want to get it from this witness, inasmuch as he took upon himself to give certain directions at a certain time, why he did not discharge the responsibility even after that, having regard to other persons or passengers? - There were no more passengers to get into that boat. The boat was actually being lowered away. 18868. That is your answer? - Yes. Examined by Mr. HOLMES. 18869. You have told us at the conversation between you and the Chief Engineer the Captain was not present? - He was not. 18870. And that you had no conversation with him during the voyage about speed? - Absolutely none. 18871. Then will you tell us how it was he was to become aware of your decision to increase the speed on the Tuesday? - I think the Engineer would probably have spoken to him. 18872. Did you make any arrangement with the Engineer about that? - I did not. 18873. Then as far as you know the Captain was not aware that you were going to make this increase in speed? - No. 18874. Do you know under whose instructions those extra boilers were put on on a Sunday morning? - I do not. 18875. Is that a thing the Chief Engineer would be likely to do on his own account? - I should say so. 18876. Unless he had had instructions from the Captain that the speed was to be increased? - I think he would if he was going to work up to 78 revolutions. 18877. At all events, you had no conversation with the Captain about it? - Absolutely none. 18878. We have been told that amongst the junior officers of this ship the two-watch system was in force? - It was. 18879. That is to say, they never have longer than four hours off before they have to go on watch again? - That is right. 18880. Do you consider that that is conducive to their being able satisfactorily to perform their duties on that ship? - I think a junior officer can quite well. He has no watch to keep. 18881. Four hours from the time he leaves his watch till he goes back again? - Yes. 18882. Have you had any complaints from your officers about that? - An officer spoke to me coming home on the “Adriatic” about it. 18883. Have your Directors generally had any petition or memorial from your officers in this or other ships? - A requisition came from the officers of the American Line, who, in the olden times, kept four hours on and eight hours off. We changed that to two on and four off. 18884. You still consider that four hours is quite sufficient for them to come off watch and have their sleep and go on watch again? - For a junior officer, yes. 18885. When you saw these boats 3, 5 and 7 being lowered, did you hear any orders given to the individual boats by any officer or the Captain? - No, I did not. 18886. No orders at all? - No. 18887. Nothing as to coming back? - No, I did not.