Ice Kept Aid from Titanic

[By The Associated Press]

Maasluis, Holland, April 23—Masses of ice prevented the Russian steamer Birma, which left New York for Rotterdam and Libau April 11, from reaching the Titanic in reply to the sinking liner’s appeal for assistance. The Birma arrived here to day.

Capt. Stolpin said his vessel was 100 miles from the Titanic when he received the wireless call that the liner was in dagger. The Birma hurried toward the spot, but had to take a roundabout course owing to the presence of enormous icebergs. As the Birma reached the scene of the disaster the Cunard liner Carpathia telegraphed that the Titanic’s boats had been picked up, but that the liner had sunk.

The Birma received the first call for help from the Titanic at 12:32 Monday morning. Capt. Stolpin immediately proceeded at full speed in the direction indicated, meanwhile preparing his boats for rescue work, but when at 8 o’clock the Birma reached the scene she found nothing but icebergs. At the other end of an immense icefield she sighted a vessel, which turned out to be the Carpathia. The Birma was in wireless touch with the Titanic from 12:32 until 2 o’clock.