Negligence and Tragedy The evidence given in the preliminary examination
into the causes of the French railway accident at Lagny is alarming. It not only indicates the probability that the mechanism on the locomotive, which should show the position of the signals, was not working, but that it was known earlier in the day that it was out of order. Yet the train was allowed to proceed, and it is suggested that the driver was not even warned that there was a slow• train on the line in front of him. Attention, of course, has again been drawn to an arrangement which has long been a notorious cause of danger on the French railway system—that by which engine-drivers are actually encouraged to over-step the safety-mark of speed by a bonus paid for making up time. M. Dautry, the Director of the State railways, has made statements which throw a flood of light on the manner in which the railways have been the victims of false economy. Antiquated methods of signalling are still used over most of the French lines, and 1,000 wooden coaches are still in use owing to the difficulty of getting money for new rolling-stock. The arrest of six high officials of the Est railway company is evidence of the extent to which the authorities have been stirred.
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