FIRST PEACE-TIME VOYAGE

Evening Star, Issue 25926, 18 October 1946, Page 7

FIRST PEACE-TIME VOYAGE

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH SAILS FOR HEW YORK GREAT SEND-OFF FROM SOUTHAMPTON (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 17. A pardonable thrill of pride peeped through Britain with the sailing of the Queen Elizabeth on her first voyage from Southampton to New York as a trans-Atlantic liner. It was summarised by her captain, Sir James Bissett, who commented just before she sailed: “No other country in the world has brought into existence so wonderful a ship as this. I was to have retired from the sea, as I am in my sixty-third year, but how could I forgo the delight of such an experience as this. As h bpy of 15 I went to sea, but of all the'adventures I had none compares with to-day.”

The “Adventure” of this voyage was eagerly sought after by peers, commoners, manufacturers, city businessand even M. Molotov forsook his negative mindedness and presented a fative mindednees and presented a eliign and smiling countenance after seeing his cabin arrangements. “ I have a great admiration for this; excellent ship,” he said, and declared that he intended to live as an ordinary passenger, eating in the main dining room, and sharing in the ship’s life. “ After all,” he explained, “ wmy not? I am a very ordinary man.” He was at great pains to emphasise that he could not accept the invitation otf a cruiser to bring him to Southampton. “I just couldn’t get all my work done in time.”

The liner and her 2,288 passengers were given a great send-off. A cheering crowd saw her depart. Eight tugs guided her to her course well outside the quayside, and bombers, air liners, air taxis, and a helicopter flew over her until she was well clear of the Solent. Soon she was doing a steady 29£ knots and heading for the Atlantic. On board the passsengers found no rationing either of food or clothing. There was a queue to buy unrationed clothing, but so great was. the rush that the shops had to be closed. Amid all the excitement of sailing, however, a shadow was east by the sudden death of Sir Percy Bates, chairman of the Cunard-White Star Company, and as a mark of respect no bands played as the Queen Elizabeth slipped away from the quayside.