With reference to the letter from Mr. W. H. Cooke, published in our last issue, correspondent who signs himself ''J.R.I." also writes to The Times:—"t According to Mr. Cooke's account, the steamer Glengule was disabled and reduced toa sinking condition by a collision which occurred "'not more than five or six miles from Gibraltar Bay—that_ is, probably some eight or ten miles from the man-of-war anchorage. Mr. Cooke complains that these men-of-war "never took the slightest notice of the alarm gun having been fired from the signal station, and never sent a single boat's crews to the rescue." How does he know this? That these fifteen men-of-war—overy one of which would have at least an officer of the watch on deck—never took any notice of the alarm gun and signal is quite incredible, and certainly ought not to have been stated on the mere authority of gentleman who must hare been several mailes off at the time, and must have been engaged in the absorbing occupation of saving his own life and helping to save the lives of his fellow-passengers. The ships were, he says, "lying idly at their anchors."
"Men-of-war lying at anchor might be as busy as beehives, but the secretary of a chamber of shipping might be expected to know thatunlessthey happened tohavesteam up—which is very unlikely, as the collision occurred on the morning of the 26th of August, and the Channel Squadron did not Teave Gibraltar until the 2nd of September—not one of them could have moved for several hours. Boats might have been called away and sent, and no doubt would have been without a moment's delay if it had seemed to those responsible to be of the slightest use to send rowing boats to a distance of at least four miles from the ships, and probably much further, at a time when
salvage steamers—which must, most for-it as known that two, specially equipped tunately, have been lying with steam uj had already gone to the rescue of the disabled vessel. Any steamboats belonging to the men-of-war, if not hoisted inboard for the night, would almost certainly have been lying at the booms with their fires drawn, and, therefore, like the men-of-war themselves, unable to move until long after the salvage steamers had done their work. Mr. Cooke's complaint thus narrows itself down to the simple fact that rowing boats were not sent several miles across a sca, calm at the time, but always affected by strong currents, in order to assist a ship in distress, to which aid had already been sent in a much more adequate form. For all Iknow, and for all Mr. Cooke tells us, this aid may have been sent at the instance of the naval authorities. It is at least incredible that they should not have k that it had gone; and if they did, most people will command their wisdom in not sending off Her Majesty's boats and bluejackets on an errand that must have been belated, and may have been regarded as impracticable in the circumstances."
Messrs. McGregor, Gow and Ca. have issued the following circular:—The s.s, Glengyle was in collision on the 26th ult, near Gibraltar, and was beached in Getares Bay to prevent her sinking. A large quantity of her cargo has been damaged, and for the benefit of all concerned, and at the desire of those principally interested in the cargo represented by the London Salvage Association, we have arranged to bring the steamer back to London. Temporary repairs are being effected at Gibraltar without discharging any cargo and the steamer will leave there on Saturday, the 4th inst. All cargo will be discharged on her arrival in London, and on completion of permanent repairs, which we do not anticipate will take very long, the sound cargo will be reshipped and taken to its destination, A survey will be held on the damaged cargo under the auspices the Salvage Association, and a report w: be forwarded to those interested.—L. Express.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.