MAIDEN TRIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 125, 28 May 1936, Page 9

MAIDEN TRIP

LINER QUEEN MARY

SCENE AT SOUTHAMPTON

SPEED RECORD POSSIBILITY

AT CAPTAIN'S DISCRETION

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 28, 11.30 a.m.)

RUGBY, May 27. Crowds estimated at a quarter of a million thronged the Southampton Docks, the shores of Southampton Water, and the heights of the Isle of Wight, and packed the decks of every available steamer and motor-boat, while aeroplanes flew overhead, as the new Cunard-White Star , liner Queen Mary cast off on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic and moved slowly from her berth at 3.32 p.m."today. 'The manoeuvre was carried out perfectly and in less than a quarter of an hour.

Then the great vessel, dwarfing all the craft she passed, gathered way and moved rapidly towards the sea. She was dressed over all, and before she left the Blue Peter was run up at her foremost masthead to join the double house-flag of the CunardWhite Star Company flying at her aft mast.

The huge liner made her way through dozens of excursion stearrlers, while various aeroplanes and seaplanes signalled messages of good luck from the air.

Twenty special trains were run from London, and many others from different parts of the country, packed with people who watched her departure.

Many busy hours preceded the liner's departure, and every incident, from the muster of the entire crew of 1100 and boat drill with the launching of all 24 unsinkable motor lifeboats to the arrival of many distinguished passengers and their friends, was cheered by the quayside sightseers. There are 3000 persons aboard. LINK OF GOOD WILL. In an interview, the liner's captain; Sir Edgar. Britten, who received messages tod^y from well-wishers all over the world, said he was sure the Queen Mary would be a great success and spoke of her as a link of good will between two . great English-speaking peoples. The captain was not to be drawn on the question of recordbreaking. He said the ship had a schedule, and he thought that if they kept to it they would not break the record. Great crowds gathered this evening at Cherbourg to welcome the Queen Mary on her first call.

Descriptions of the steamer's departure are being broadcast in the 8.8.C. programmes, and each evening, in addition to special broadcasts during her voyage, reports of the liner's progress will be relayed' direct from the ship during all news bulletins.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.' (Received May 28, 11.50 a.m.) • LONDON, May 27. The Queen Mary was thoroughly searched for stowaways ,before she left. . . .

The decision whether to attempt a record rests with Sir Edgar Britten, and will depend largely on the weather.