To the Editor of the "Norr-Cuina Datty News."
Srr,—Your issue of the 20th contains a further letter from "Spectator" in which he shows particular interest in myself and as I doubt the sincerity of the compliment I must ask him again to write you and explain what he means by saying I have "mis quoted his letter (of the 14th instant) in '"'such a glaring manner." Having again carefully read his lefter of the 14th and also mine of the 19th instant, I fail to find where I have made any quotation from his letter at all; the only quotation I made was from the letter signed "S. Further, I do not intend to be drawn into any discussion on any matter with persons who are either afraid, ashamed, or for diplomatic reasons do not write over their own. names.
But if "Spectator" thinks my interpretation of the '"Preliminary Article" is wrong, I advise him +o subscribe for the back numbers of the "Times" issues, of cases tried in the Admiralty Division of the High Courts, for further information; or perhaps it would be cheaper, if he consulted a good "Admiralty" Jawyer 7 His account of a collision is of' no value to me as I do not know where Hunt's Wharf is and the same of the. Old Ningpo Wharf. "But he "knows who paid"; there: fore alk I can say is, (that cording to his description) captain who so recklessly takes his vessel suddenly into another channel without first ascertaining whether it was navigably clear or not ought to have paid and heavily too His further description of the action of two vessels is also of little use to me and I cannot venture an opinion, but he asks if the action of one vessel going astern dragging ber anchor after her making three. blasts of her whistle is wrong! Tie thinks not, Well! as long as he only ''thinks"'. so, if won't do any harm especially as he is only a spectator.
Many may do Worse than take a course of instruction from Commander Davies, but he is not available for that purpose.
While writing this letter, 1 may be interesting to inform your readers, that the great majority of responsible seamen never undergo any instruction such as a naval officer undergoes, therefore it leaves them more or less in-' efficient in regard to the finer and deeper problems of their ~profession. Many years ago the Admiralty were persuaded' to open Greenwich College for the use of Mercantile Marine Officers so that they could have, the benefit of the special courses in navigation, seamanship, "rule of..the road, mathematics, physics, international law, etc., the same as the naval officers. I regret to say that this great. opportunity 18 very _seaatily taken opportunity I am, eto, Frepx, Davies. Woosung Forts, Dec, 21, 1923.:
To the Editor of the "Norra-Cu1na Dairy News.' is himself satisfied that there was" nothing wrong with the action of the coaster swinging off the Hongkew Wharf, but he considers that the fact that an officer belongs to the "grandest service in. the world" entitles him- to make and allow to be published a criticism of that same action, and any attempt to protest against such an injustice is uncalled-for and senseless criticism. This is clearly the result of an opinion formed for him by his ancestors and. argument against such. a state of mind would be wasted., According to the "Rules ofthe Road" Capt.. Davies. is right—if anyone doubts it he can quote. innumerable volumes to: prove his contention, and, the Harbour Regulations specifically state that these rules shall govern shipping in the harbour.
Theoretically..a. work of art, as many volumes' attest, these rules are nevertheless" in practice generally conceded to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.