Liner Queen Mary

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 66, 19 March 1936, Page 9

Liner Queen Mary

RIVER CHANGED FOR SAFETY LONDON, Feb. 8. Mon with gelignite are changing the bed of tho river Clyde for the Queen Mary, the new wonder ship, whoso proposed fares are causing anxiety in the liner, offices of Germany, Franco and the United States. While the international travel experts are trying desperately hard to avoid a disastrous rate war in the North Atlantic, navigation experts hre ensuring tho safo passage of the Queen Mary when she slips down tho Clyde to the Firth on March 24. For example, there is a bend of the river at Dalmuir which will give the ship’s propellers a clearance of only a few feet. This is where most of the dredging and blasting is going on. Tho experts will sigh with relief when the Queen Mary gets past this point. Their hearts will be in their mouths again as she noses towards Greenock, There is another bad bend here. Once Greenock is passed all should be plain sailing. What the experts fear most, however, is the wind. If an east wind somes along it will cut the water and reduce clearance. That might mean postponement of the Queen Mary’s departure. Worse' still, a wind may spring up when the ship is actually on her way down tho river. Her bulk and her slow speed—she would be travelling at only throe or four knots—might mako her unmanageable in a strong wind coming from the wrong direction.