ATLANTIC SHIPS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3379, 20 June 1927, Page 8

ATLANTIC SHIPS.

1 INTERNATIONAL RIVALRY. Once more the North Atlantic is to be the scene of fierce conflicts between (ho nations of Europe for supremacy in rapid marine transport. The old rivalry in tins sphere, which came to a sudden cud with the outbreak of the war in 1914 is likely to take a new lease of life within the next year or two.

Those who followed shipping -events in the years " immediately preceding the war will remember the sensation that was caused when the Deutschland, then by far the largest ship in the world, sailed into Southampton Harbour with the the words, “Aiade in Germany” flying in imonmse illuminated letters from her mast. 'l’fiat was the beginning of a new era in trans-Atlantic passenger services. Great Britain itself challenged by the appearance of tbo Deutschland, and the answer took the form of tbo Lusitania and Mauretania.

Then came the Olympic and Titanic, both British-built vessels, of 46,000 tons od!, Id which the Germans replied by the Impevator (now Berengaria), of 52,000. and the Vatcrmnd (now Leviathan), of over 65,000 tons. The Bismarck, of about the same size, never crossed the Atlantic under the German flag, but was taken over at (lie armistice as an entirely new vessel, and rochristened “Majestic.” These huge German vessels, however, though far beyond any British vessel in tonnage, wore not superior to Ihe Mauretania and Lusitania in speed, so that in this respect it m-ay he said that little progress has taken place since the launch of the .Mauretania, ♦ The new rivalry for the blue ribbon of the Atlantic will probably be even more exciting than the rivalry of prewar days, chiefly because the number of competitors will ho considerably enlarged. Before it was almost entirely hj question of Great Britain or Germany. Now both France and Italy —especially the Filter —will have lo be reckoned with as serious

This time it is indeed Italy who with Germany is sotting the pace. .Mussolini’s somewhat vague utterances regarding the faturei Italian trausAthinlic passenger services have by no means revealed any of the secrets of the Genoa or Monfalponc shipbuilding yards, ).n:I they have at least shown that the chief object of the two great vessels, Dux and Box, now under construction, will bo .speed. In France, as in Ttnlv. the shipbuild-

ng industry has made considerable pro

gross since the wav. owing to low rales of was able lo produce one of the largest vessels completed since the war the Iqivis (36,500 tons) —and has now the larger Ile-de-France under construction. This latter vessel will have a tonnage of over 40,000. ami is expected to be put into commission next Alav.

Now, as ever,’ however, it is Germany that the British shipping companies must

watch most carefully if they wish to retain the blue ribbon of tho Atlantic. The recent order' by tire Norddcutsehcr Lloyd of two vessels'each of 46.C00 tons, to he

named “Bremen”' and “Enrnpa,” is quite the most important shipbuilding event since the war, and tho vessels, when completed. will put anything undertaken since tiro Rismarek entirely in the shade. They are to have a speed o F 26.3 knots, as compared with the Alanretania’s original 25 knots, and the voyage from Bremen to New York will occupy six days, that from Cherbourg to New York taking five da vs.

it is possible that the Hapag (as the IT.-rinbnrg-Amcrica Line is generally called In in) is hanging heck in order to concen-

trate ils efforts on the vessel of 70,000 tons and with a speed of 28 knots, of which 1 Lore has been some talk in Germany lately, lent tire general feeling is that'this attractive proposal is not likely to emerge from tire rvaim of Teutonic theorisings for some time to come.