GREATEST SHIP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 8

GREATEST SHIP

SIR E. BRITTEN'S COMMAND. The man who will rule the greatest community ever taken to sea told me something of his hopes and plans in a recent interview, writes a "Sunday Express" iepresentative. Sir Edgar Britten, captain of the Queen Mary, a tall, spare man, was wearing a tweed suit. "I'm off to the north to see the Queen Mary to-day," he said. "The life of ship's captain sounds easy to some. But there are heavy responsibilities, and I do not get much time to myself. "Afloat I am king of a small community. But no king can rule without efficient Ministers of State, and much of my work would be impossible without tried and trusted officers.

"In the Berengaria I had as fine a selection of office-rs and crew as I have ever seen. When I take over the Queen Mary I should like my officers and crew to come with me."

He will be in constant touch with all parts of bis ship wherever he goes. There is even a bedside telephone which connects with tbe officer on the bridge. I asked him: "What about the rule forbidding the wives of captains to travel in the same ship as their husbands:-'"

"Well, it seems quite natural to me," Sir Edgar replied. "The managing director of a big business does not have his wife sitting in the office every day. does he? And neither does the commander of a liner.

"Lady Britten could not travel in one of the ships I commanded. It is an iron rule." Within an hour of the Queen Mary leaving Southampton on her first voyage, Sir Edgar will be faced with his most difficult task.

As commander he has to invite certain passengers to sit at his table throughout the trip. Me will have names before him representing British society, members of America's Four Hundred, and hundreds of other notable travellers. From these he will have to decide who shall be honoured on one of the most momentous voyages ever made.