LONDON (Reuters) – The Titanic hit an iceberg in 1912 because of a basic steering error, and only sank as fast as it did because an official persuaded the captain to continue sailing, an author said in an interview published on Wednesday.Louise Patten, a writer and granddaughter of Titanic second officer Charles Lightoller, said the truth about what happened nearly 100 years ago had been hidden for fear of tarnishing the reputation of her grandfather, who later became a war hero.
Lightoller, the most senior officer to have survived the disaster, covered up the error in two inquiries on both sides of the Atlantic because he was worried it would bankrupt the ill-fated liner's owners and put his colleagues out of a job."They could easily have avoided the iceberg if it wasn't for the blunder," Patten told the Daily Telegraph.
Patten, who made the revelations to coincide with the publication of her new novel "Good as Gold" into which her account of events are woven, said that the conversion from sail ships to steam meant there were two different steering systems.
Once the mistake had been made, Patten added, "they only had four minutes to change course and by the time (first officer William) Murdoch spotted Hitchins' mistake and then tried to rectify it, it was too late."
Patten's grandfather was not on watch at the time of the collision, but he was present at a final meeting of the ship's officers before the Titanic went down.
There he heard not only about the fatal mistake but also the fact that J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of Titanic's owner the White Star Line persuaded the captain to continue sailing, sinking the ship hours faster than would otherwise have happened.
"If Titanic had stood still, she would have survived at least until the rescue ship came and no one need have died," Patten said.
Scottish officials found their original accommodation to be "unsafe and unfit for human habitation".
England are "optimistic" they will compete, but say urgent work is needed before the Games begin on 3 October.
But Welsh officials are content with their headquarters and believe that organisers "should be able to do it."
Northern Ireland's first representatives are leaving for India on Tuesday and have lined up alternative accommodation in case their scheduled quarters are not ready.
Building works have fallen well behind schedule in the build-up to the Games and Thursday's official opening of the village to 7000 athletes and officials now looms large.
Safety fears were heightened after at least one person was injured as a pedestrian bridge collapsed near the event's main stadium on Tuesday.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell, who has written to the Indian government expressing his concern over progress, has warned that security around the site has delayed improvements.
"Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of 20 September, the Commonwealth Games Village is seriously compromised," he said.
However Randhir Singh, vice-president of the event's organising committee, is confident that the village will be delivered as promised.
"There were some flats that the labour force was working on and they had dirtied certain other flats," said Singh.
Scotland have called on the Commonwealth Games Federation "to make a realistic decision as to at what point and under what conditions...the Games will be able to go ahead should the village issues not be resolved".
India's monsoon weather has revealed new plumbing and electrical problems ahead of the arrival of England's first athletes on Thursday.
"Commonwealth Games England remains optimistic that England participation at the Games can go ahead," read a statement.
"However there is a lot still to be done in the Village and this needs to be done with some urgency."
Wales have previously lodged a formal complaint over conditions in the village, however chef de mission Chris Jenkins is now confident his team's accommodation is on track.
"It's in a good state now: it's clean, the plumbing's working, the wiring's working, the electric is working, the air conditioning works, the medical clinic is pretty much set up," he told BBC Sport Wales.
Unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, it's going to be extremely hard to get across the line."
However New Zealand Prime Minister John Key played down the implications of Currie's downbeat assessment.
"I think he was just reflecting the frustrations we had expressed to us overnight," he said.
"I wouldn't say that means the Commonwealth Games would be off. It's unlikely that New Zealand would make a call (to pull out) that other countries weren't prepared to make."
Australia and Canada are the other two teams to have set up camp in Delhi at the earliest opportunity.
Australia's chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said his officials "didn't seem that concerned about the overall condition of the village", but claimed organisers "have got two days to do what's probably going to take about two weeks".
Pietersen made his first appearance in two years in last Sunday's Friends Provident t20 win over Surrey.
That was only his 11th Hampshire game in the last four years and his current Rose Bowl contract is due to expire.
"It's just a geographical issue," said his agent Adam Wheatley. "He and his family are in London, and the county is 90 minutes down the road."
"I have not had much opportunity to play for Hampshire but I want to thank the players, staff, chairman and fans, for the support I have had during my time at The Rose Bowl," said Pietersen, in a statement issued by his county.
But he has been a centrally contracted England player for most of his time with Hampshire and, since making his Test debut in July 2005, he has made just one Championship appearance.
When asked after the game last Sunday evening, if he would like to feature more for his county, Pietersen told BBC Radio Solent: "Geographically, it just doesn't work. I live in Chelsea."
That would appear to indicate Pietersen's preference for one of the two London counties, Surrey or Middlesex. But Wheatley insists: "There have been no approaches at all.
"It's certainly not Kevin's intention to be a freelance cricketer as he would still be required to play for a county.
"I think now we've given notice to Hampshire, things may start to happened if there is some interest."
"Technically speaking," said an ECB spokesman, "a player doesn't have to be registered with a county to be eligible for England.
"But, practically, it's in the best interest of the player and the England management that he is registered with a county.
"This is so the option exists for that player to go back to his county and play cricket when required, eg in between international series."
Pietersen will be back at The Rose Bowl next week, but only for England's one-day international series opener against Australia (22 June).
Hampshire chairman of cricket Rod Bransgrove added: "Given England's critical dependence on KP in all forms of cricket, we have not seen anything like as much of him as we would have liked over the past six years.
"He remains, however, a fantastic player and we wish him continued success wherever he plays."
MANCHESTER: Steven Finn took five wickets as England thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 80 runs inside three days in the second Test to wrap up a 2-0 series victory at Old Trafford here on Sunday.Bangladesh, following-on, were dimissed for 123 in 34.1 overs with fast bowler Finn taking five wickets for 42 runs in 10 overs.James Anderson took three for 16 in 10 on his Lancashire home ground.Defeat meant Bangladesh have now lost 34 of their 68 Tests by an innings.Anderson and Finn combined to reduce Bangladesh, who'd suffered a dramatic collapse in Saturday's final session, to 37 for five in the 13th over.Only Mohammad Mahmudullah, with 38, offered much resistance.England, after rain meant no play was possible before lunch, saw captain Andrew Strauss enforce the follow-on.Bangladesh, dismissed for 216 after losing all 10 first innings wickets after tea on Saturday, were still 203 runs behind England's 419.In overcast conditions, their top order struggled against England's new ball pair on Sunday.England captured the prize wicket of Tamim Iqbal, who'd made hundreds in his last two knocks, including 108 in the first innings of this match, when the left-hander was caught behind second ball for just two fending at a rising Anderson delivery.It was the first time in six innings against England that Tamim had failed to pass fifty.Imrul Kayes, the Tigers' other left-handed opener, then fell hooking Finn for the second time in the match, with Test debutant Ajmal Shahzad once more taking a catch at long leg.Junaid Siddique was then caught by Kevin Pietersen in the gully off Anderson and when Finn had Jahurul Islam edging through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior for nought, after trying to cut a lifting ball that was too close to him, Bangladesh were 21 for four off eight overs.The 6ft 8in quick had taken two wickets for 12 runs in four overs, including two for three in seven balls.Mohammad Ashraful off-drove Finn for four in textbook fashion.However, his innings of 14 ended when he couldn't keep down an Anderson delivery that moved off the pitch and edged to Jonathan Trott at first slip.Bangladesh were now 37 for five, with Anderson having taken three wickets for 10 runs in 6.2 overs.And the Tigers were 39 for six when Yorkshire quick Shahzad bowled Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan between bat and pad.But four byes, conceded by Prior - nursing a finger injury - off the bowling of off-spinner Graeme Swann gave Bangladesh the consolation of surpassing their record lowest Test innings score of 62 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2007.Mahmudullah several times hooked Finn to the boundary but, trying to repeat the stroke, he edged and was well caught by a leaping Prior to end a 52-ball innings featuring five fours.Bangladesh were now 97 for eight and that became 119 for nine when Shafiul Islam was caught at first slip by Strauss off Finn.And the match ended when Abdur Razzak holed out off Swann.
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