THE ' GROSSER KURFURST.'
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The question of the steering orders on shipboard has assumed very curious proportions, although the subject is too technical to attract the attention of the public. After the collision between the ' Alberta' and the ' Mistletoe,' the quartermaster of the Alberta' gave the following evidence :—" The order was- given by word of mouth ; the usual custom is by motion," the order " starboard," by word of mouth, being to go to the left, and• by motion, to go to the right. The jury in this case deliberated for thirteen hours, without being able to arrive at any conclusion. In a letter just received from Germany, it is stated, " The late collision of our ironclads was owing to a confusion in the steering orders, given in the first instance by word of mouth, and secondly by hand " (motion). The writer adds, "I believe we must come- to an international agreement both for the steering orders and the steering rules." After the Berlin Conference has shown the way in politics, I should think nautical matters would be more easy. But we must anxiously wait for the right moment, when it will be practical to enlarge the Conference with nautical men.—I am,
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