29 JULY 1893, Page 2

On Thursday, the verdict of the Victoria' Court-Martial was declared

at Malta. The Court finds, first, that the loss was due to the Commander-in-Chief's order ; secondly, that after the collision no mistake was made ; thirdly, that Captain Bourke was not to blame; and fourthly, "the Court strongly feels that, although it is much to be regretted that Rear-Admiral. Albert Hastings Markham did not carry out his first intention to semaphore to the Commander-in-Chief his doubt as to the signal, it would be fatal to the best interests of the service to say he was to blame for carrying out the directions of his Commander-in-Chief, present in person." In this verdict the public will concur. It was inevitable under the circumstances.