MAIDEN VOYAGE

Evening Star, Issue 22350, 28 May 1936, Page 11

MAIDEN VOYAGE

THE LINER QUEEN MARY HUGE CROWDS AT SOUTHAMPTON Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, .May 27. (Received May 28, at 10 a.m.) Rivalling the Derby crowds wore the sightseers at Southampton to witness tbo departure of the liner Queen Mary. Sir Edgar Britten inspected the crew in the morning, , and the ship was searched for stowaways. The decision whether an attempt will bo made on the record rests with Sir Edgar Britten, and will depend largely on the weather. (Received May 28, at 11 a.m.) The Queen Mary sailed at 4.32 p.m. IMPRESSIVE SEND-OFF BUSY HOURS PRECEDE DEPARTURE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 27. (Received May 28, at noon.) Crowds estimated at a quarter of a million thronged Southampton Docks, the shores of Southampton Wate.*, and the heights of the Isle of Wight, and packed the decks of every available steamer and motor boat, and aeroplanes flew overhead as the liner Queen Mary cast off and moved slowly from her berth. The manoeuvre was carried out perfectly, and iu 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. ■ Many busy hours preceded the liner’s departure, and every incident, from the muster of the entire crew of T.IOO, and boat drill, with the launching of all the 24 unsinkable motor lifeboats, to tho arrival of the many distinguished passengers and their friends, was cheered by the quayside sightseers. In an interview, the liner’s captain (Sir Edgar Britten), who received messages to-day 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 goodwill between two great English-speaking peoples. Crowds gathered this evening at Cherbourg to welcome the Queen Mary on her first call. BROADCAST ARRANGEMENTS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 26. ■ When the liner Queen Mary leaves Southampton to-morrow afternoon on her maiden Atlantic crossing it will be possible for most of the world to hear each day descriptions of her progress and share by means of wireless something of the life on board the great liner. Nine 8.8. C. officials and nine commentators from other countries will be on board, and microphones will be taken everywhere in the ship, from the engine room to the crow’s nest. On no previous occasion have such elaborate programmes been undertaken from a vessel at sea. During five clays, beginning with tho departure from Southampton to the arrival on June 1 in New York, the programmes will be diffused not only throughout the British Empire but over the broadcasting systems of the United States and many other countries.