OLD TROOPSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 8

OLD TROOPSHIPS.

Pkobaei.t no British steamers engaged in trooping were better known than the British India steamers Avoea and Jelunga, both of which have been acquired by the New York and Continental line (says the London Shipping Gazette). On the Jelunga, which now lies in the Albert Dock, expedition is being used in preparing Iter for her North Atlantic service, a number of men being busily engaged in fitting berths in the 'tween decks for the third-class passengers. When these operations are completed the Jelunga will have accommodation for about 1700 steerage passengers, while at the same time she will be able to carry about 120 first and second-class. The Avoea was sold out of the British India service about, a year ago, and was then acquired by a Danish company, from whom she was repurchased by her present owners. Whilst under the Danish flag the Avoea was known as the Atlanta, but on passing once again to British ownership she was restored to her old name. The Avoea ami Jelunga are practically sister ships, and their trooping services have not only extended over a number of years, but have been performed under a foreign as well as the British flag. During the Spanish-Ame-rican war they were chartered by the Spaniards as transports. The two vessels had excellent records when trooping under the British flag, both for speed and strict compliance with Government regulations. . The Jelunga was due to leave Hamburg about the middle of May for the United States. She will be commanded by Captain H. M. Walker* the chief engineer being Mr. Connell, who was second engineer on the" vessel when she belonged to the British India Company. The third officer of the Jelunga is also an old British India man. who lias served in the ship for a number of voyages. It is worthy of note that, the Jelunga whs chartered by the Japanese during the war for the conveyance of Russian prisoners from the Ear East to Odessa. Both the Avoea and the Jelunga. have, in the course of their trooping services, made previous North Atlantic voyages. They have before now carried troops to Nova Scotia.