“QUEEN MARY” LEAVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 May 1936, Page 7

“QUEEN MARY” LEAVES

enormous Crowds

DAILY BROADCASTINGS

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, May 27.

Crowds estimated at 250,000 thronged 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, and aeroplanes flew overhead, as the liner Queen Mary cast off and moved slowly from her berth at 5.32 p.m. G.M.T. The manoeuvre was carried out perfectly, and in less than a quarter of an hour 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 1,100, and boat drill with the launching of all 24 unsinkable motor-life- > boats, to the arrival of many distintinguished passengers and their friends, was cheered by 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 that he was sure the Queen Mary would be a great success, and spoke of her as a link- in the goodwill between the two great English-speaking peoples. Crowds gathered this evening, at Cherbourg to welcome the Queen Mary, on her first call. It will be possible for most of the worid to hear, each day, descriptions of the Queen Mary's and to share, by means of wireless; something of the life aboard the great liner. Nine 8.8. C. officials andjnine commentators from other countries will be on board. 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 n ve?-. sei at sea. During five days, beginning with her departure from Southampton,to her arrival on June 1 in New York, programmes will be diffused not only throughout the British Empire,; but over the broadcasting systems of the United States and many other count! Sir Edgar Britten inspected the crew in the morning, and the ship was searched 'for stowaways. The decision whether to attempt a record rests with Sir Edgar Britten, and will depend largely on the weather. _