This is interesting for a couple of reasons
1) the engine room telegraphs that have been recovered have all been set at slow ahead.
2) the tiller/rudder issue, if true, certainly puts a dismal light on it. The first time I heard Lightoller’s testimony recording, it was so rehearsed and seemed designed to exonerate white star of anything at all that it was hard to believe it was not distorted, but this claim is something else.
Interesting development. I too have puzzled over the engine telegraph settings. I assumed that Captain Smith ordered the stricken liner to proceed slowly just to test her seaworthiness after the collision, but I doubt he would have continued that experiment when it became obvious how damaged she was. However, none of the passengers report that the ship was still moving ahead once the initial momentum had been shed. And several reported that there was a deafening roar as the boilers, which had been stoked for “full steam ahead,” were vented when the ship went to full stop.
As to the rudder/steering issue, I would have to know much more about the helmsman’s background and the maritime engineering behind ship’s steering mechanics before I could speak to that.
I’m skeptical of these claims, especially by author with such a vested interest in raising new assertions about the incident. But I will say there is some minimal evidence to lend them credence.