LINER QUEEN MARY'S TRIUMPH ACCLAIMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 7

LINER QUEEN MARY'S TRIUMPH ACCLAIMED.

DOUBLE HONOUR.

Second Atlantic Crossing at

30 Knot Average.

FRENCH CONGRATULATIONS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 31. The Cunard-White Star liner Queen Mary has now won the blue riband for the Atlantic crossing from west to east. The liner passed Bishop Rock, Scilly Isles, at 8.12 p.m. yesterday (eastern standard time).

The passage to Bishop Rock had occupied 3 days 23 hours 57 minutes for the 2929 miles and the average speed of the vessel was 30.03 knots. The time is 3 hours 31 minutes under the Normanclie's best.

One of the first messages of congratulation on the performance of the Queen Mary came from the owners of the Normandie, whose chairman, M. de Malglaive, telegraphed: "As friends and competitors we are glad to see that she accomplished what was expected of her. It will be interesting to see what will happen next."

There is unbounded enthusiasm at Clydebank, where the Queen Mary was built, and the whole of -Southampton waterfront was crowded and beflagged awaiting the Queen Mary's arrival from Cherbourg, where passengers presented a bouquet to the commander in honour of the ship's achievement.

A tremendous reception was accorded the liner at Southampton, and there was a deafening blare of syrens to which the Queen Mary's deep boom gave answer. The Cunard-White Star Company sent congratulatory telegrams to the commander, the chief engineer, and the builders.

Record in Spite of Fog. The Queen Mary made the new record in spite of a fog hanging over the Scilly Islands and the Channel. Thousands of people who had assembled on the south-west coast were disappointed as visibility was reduced to one or two miles.

The daily figures for the trip are: First day, 570 miles at 30.13 knots; second day, 703 miles at 30.57 knots; third day, 713 miles at 31 knots; fourth day, 712 miles at 30.9G knots.

Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, formerly commander of the Cunard fleet, says: "I am as proud as anyone that this country has won back the blue riband and I extend my hearty congratulations to Sir Edgar Britten, commander of the Queen Mary, and to the chief engineer."

Speaking to a representative of the '•News Chronicle" from the Queen Mary over an ocean telephone, Mr. Manyier, president of International Rotary, said: "Everyone on board is delighted. There have been queues round the notice board and the passengers have toasted Sir Edgar Britten and the crew in the bars. We are having a real gala dinner this evening."

The "Daily Mail" says: "It was a great moment for Britain when the Queen Mary passed Bishop Rock. There is nothing wrong with British seamanship or shipbuilding. The Stirling Castle is speeding to Capetown.

"Unfortunately these triumphs cannot be matched in other directions. The wasting disease of the mercantile marine can be seen. It is most deadly in the Pacific. The blue riband of the Pacific must be ours as well as the trophy of the western ocean."