Page 7 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

16117. What is the entry in the procès-verbal? - The entry is in German “Nr. 5 und 6 zu M.G.Y.” 16118. It means No. 5 and 6 to the “Titanic”? - Yes. 16119. And does the number 5 and the No. 6 refer to the numeral on the message? - It does. 16120. And I think No. 5 is the one you are going to call attention to? - Yes. 16121. That in the same way your Lordship sees is the log. (To the Witness.) Now have you got the message which is referred to there as No. 5? - We have. 16122. I am going to ask you later how that is, but first of all let us have the message as it is before you. What is the time? - 11.45 in the morning. “To the steamer ‘Titanic’ M.S.G. via Cape Race to the Hydrographic Office, Washington. “D. S. ‘Amerika’ passed two large icebergs in 41 deg. 27 min. N., 50 deg. 8 min. W., on the 14th April.” Signed, “Knuth.” 16123. He is the Captain of the vessel? - Yes. 16124. (The Commissioner.) Now read it to me again? - “To the steamer ‘Titanic’ M.S.G. via Cape Race to the Hydrographic Office, Washington. D S ‘Amerika’ passed two large icebergs 41 deg. 27 min. N., 50 deg. 8 min. W., on the 14th April.” Signed, “Knuth.” 16125. It does not say what time? - It does not say what time. The Commissioner: But it must have been early in the day. 16126. (The Solicitor-General.) Yes, my Lord. (To the Witness.) Now I want to see what the material is for judging whether that goes through the “Titanic.” First of all, is there any number on that to tell you what its number is - the number of the message? - Yes, there is No. 5. 16127. (The Commissioner.) What does No. 5 mean? Does it mean the fifth message sent out on that day? - It means the fifth message sent out on that day, yes. 16128. (The Solicitor-General.) That corresponds to No. 5 in the procès-verbal? - Yes. 16129. The time of the message you say is 11.45? - 11.45 a.m. 16130. And in the procès-verbal No. 5 is entered at 11.47? - Yes. 16131. Within two minutes? - Yes. 16132. And it is stated in the procès-verbal that No. 5 is sent to the “Titanic”? - Yes. 16133. Is it a common practice in sending messages to a land station or to such a place as this hydrographic office to relay them through another ship? - Very common. The Commissioner: Explain what you mean. 16134. (The Solicitor-General - To the Witness.) Will you explain yourself? - The position of the “Amerika” was such that she was not at that moment within range of a coast station, but she was in communication with another ship which would very shortly be within range of that coast station. 16135. (The Commissioner.) It is passed on? - Yes, it is passed on. 16136. The message came to the “Amerika” from Cape Race, but originated in Washington? - No, it originated on the “Amerika,” intended for the Hydrographic Office, Washington, via Cape Race; but the “Amerika” was unable to send it. 16137. This was a telegram from the “Amerika” to Washington? - Yes. 16138. Now, how do you say it reaches the “Titanic”? - The “Amerika” desire this message to get by the quickest route to Washington, and the quickest route was via the first coast station which is Cape Race; but the “Amerika” was not at that moment in communication with Cape Race; she was, however, in communication with another ship which happened to be the “Titanic,” which would very shortly be within range of Cape Race. 16139. The “Titanic” was in communication or could put herself in communication with Cape Race? - That is it. Therefore she asked the “Titanic” to relay the message. Then all this comes to if you have finished with this, is this, that the “Titanic” was used by the Marconi man on board the “Amerika” as a conduit pipe for sending a message to the hydrographic station in Washington.