ARMING LINERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 34, 17 March 1914, Page 5

ARMING LINERS.

The Admiralty has just published a list of the vessels which hav-e been ''armed with guns for the purpose of self-defence, from which it would appear that shipowners generally have not been anxious to take advantage of the Adoffer. The P. and O. Company, the British India, and a large number of other well-known companies have not apparently seen the advantage of the scheme. The White Star Line, which is owned by a New Jersey Corporation, is apparently the most patriotic of the <' British'' lines, as .it comes to the assistance of the British Government with 10 vessels armed, and has prepared itself to take such measures as it can to safeguard the country's food supply in the event of war. What it would do should we be at war with the United States can be imagined, comments "Fairplay." The list is as follows: —

Eoyal Mail Steam Packet Company.— Aragon, Amazon, Asturias, Deseado, Desna, Drina, Demerara, and Darro. White Star Line. —Ceramic, Corinth ic, Cufic, Afric, Medic, Tropic, Suevic, Persic, Zealandic, and Runic. Messrs Houlder Bros.—La Correntma, La Bosarina, La Negra, EI Uruguayo, and El Paraguay o. Federal Steam Navigation Company. —Wiltshire and Shropshire. Aberdeen Line.—Themistocles. New Zealand Shipping Company.— Eotorua. ■. Scottish Shire Line.—Argyllshire. Each vessel carries two 4.7 in guns mounted at the stem.