CORINTHIC'S RECORD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 11

CORINTHIC'S RECORD.

VESSEL DUE TO-MORROW.

70TH VOYAGE TO DOMINION. SERVICE IN THE GREAT WAR. ' The White Star liner Corinthic, which is duo at Auckland from London on Wednesday, is making her 701 h voyago to New Zealand. Built in 1902 specially for the New Zealand trade, the Corinthic has been continually in the service ever since and the number of voyages she has made between England and the Dominion is probably a record. In her long career the Corinthic has travelled more than 1,500,000 miles, and has carried thousands of passengers and more than 1,000,000 tons of cargo. On tho outbreak of the war the Corinthic took army reservists to England and later sho carried tho 18th and 23rd reinforcements. Owing to tho activities of the enemy the vessel took three months (o reach England with the 23rd Reinforcements, six weeks being the i.sual time. She travelled via Cape Horn and made lengthy stays at Capetown and Sierra Leone before sho could procure safe conduct lo Plymouth. With tho 18th Reinforcements (he Corinthic proceeded, via Panama, and was escorted from Newport News to Halifax, Nova Scotia, by an American cruiser. From Halifax to England she was convoyed by armed merchantmen. On another voyage, when carrying civilian passengers, she had a narrow escape from destruction by an enemy submarine. Encounter with a Submarine. The Corinthic was off Start Point, near Plymouth, when the submarine was ob- ' served preparing to attack her. A shell fired from the Corinthic's sfx-inch gun caused the submarine to submerge and nothing nioro was seen of her. The matter was reported when the Corinthic reached Plymouth and destroyers were despatched to search for (lie submarine. On one of the many voyages made by the Corinthic the Nova Scotian schooner Margaret Ryan was sighted off Cape Raoc flying signals of distress. She reported that she had encountered a severe storm and was foundering. The Corinthic rescued the crew, who set fire to the schooner before abandoning her. Throughout the war the Corinthic traded steadily (o New Zealand and returned to England each voyage with large cargoes of Now Zealand produce for (he use of the Allied Armies and the people of Britain. She has been a fortunate vessel in having been remarkably free from accidents since she was built. She was constructed by Ilarland and Wolff, Limited, at Belfast, and tho good condition of the vessel after 29 years is an indication of tho class of material she was built of. The engines are in as good a condition as the hull and can still dii\e the vessel at 12$ knots, which was her original speed. Fortunate In Her Officers. ■ Tho Corinthic also has been fortunate, in being commanded and officered by efficient seamen, seme of whom have succeeded well in the company s sei\ icc. One of her first commanders was Captain H. F. David, who recently retired after having been in command of the. 46,C00 ton White Star liner Olympic for many years. For 18 years the Corinthic was commanded by Captain I'. Hart, who retired from the sea in July. Ho was in command of the vessel for 44 voyages and he estimated that in the time ho v.-as on tlie vessel she travelled 1,000.000 miles. He was the oldest captain, in service. in tlie England-New Zealand trade. Although the Corinthic is owned by the White Star Line she lias always run under the auspices of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Line. wl'Yh is an associate I company of the \\ bite Star.