VOYAGE BEGUN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 11

VOYAGE BEGUN

LINER QUEEN MARY MAY SEEK NEW RECORD CROWDS AT SOUTHAMPTON CALL MADE AT CHERBOURG By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 28, G. 15 p.m.) LONDON, May 2S The giant Cunard-White Star liner Queeri Mary left Southampton ( on her maiden voyage to New York at 4.32 p.m. yesterday. Crowds of sightseers, who rivalled in number those at the Derby, witnessed the departure of the vessel.

Sir Edgar Britten, the commander, had inspected the crew in the morning.

A message from Cherbourg states that the liner arrived there 4 hours 20 minutes after leaving Southampton and embarked 100 more passengers. She also received by air photographic films of her departure from Southampton aud of the Derby, which were screened on board in the evening. The Queen Mary also took on board £2,500,000 worth of gold bullion. A woman stowaway was found soon after the vessel left Southampton and was landed at Cherbourg. The Queen Mary was a gala ship, there being flowers everywhere. More than 2000 bouquets had been delivered for passengers at Southampton. The commander received more than 4000 telegrams wishing him good luck, including one from King Edward. The ship carries 3500 bags of mail from London, and 35,000 letters were passed through the Southampton Post Office, mostly in 'view of making the envelopes souvenirs owing to the special stamping.

The liner left Cherbourg for New York at 12:35 a.m. to-day. A special correspondent of the Daily Mail on board says he learns that the sailing orders are to attempt to break the record if conditions are favourable. In order to break the record it will be necessary to reach Ambrose Light, New York Harbour, on Monday by 6 a.m. The recognised course for the Atlantic record is between Bishop's Rock, Scilly Isles, and the Ambrose Light. The record at present is held by the French liner Normandie, which on her maiden voyage made the trip to New York in 4 days 3 hours minutes. The Daily Herald says the sister ship to be called the King George will be announced in a few days.

SCENE AT DOCKS BIG SHIP CASTS OFF A LINK OF GOODWILL British Wireless RUGBY, May 27 It is estimated that 250.000 people thronged Southampton Docks, the shores of Southampton Water and the heights of the Isle of Wight, and even packed the decks of every available steamer and motor-boat, while aeroplanes flew overhead, as sthe Queen Marv cast off and moved slowly ffom her berth. The manoeuvre was carried out perfectly and in less than a quarter of an hour. Then the great vessel, dwarfing all the craft she passed, gathered way and moved rapidly toward the sea. Many busy hours had preceded the liner's departure. Every incident, from the muster of the entire crew of 1100 and boat drill, with launching of all her 24 unsinkable motor-lifeboats, to the arrival of many distinguished passengers and their friends, was cheered by the sightseers. In an interview Captain Sir Edgar Britten, who received messages from well-wishers all over the world, said he was sure the Queen Mary would be a great success, and spoke of her as a link of goodwill between the two great English-speaking peoples. Crowds of people gathered this evening at Cherbourg to welcome the Queen Mary on her first call.

The Queen Mary's gross tonnage is\ 83,800, compared with 82,799 tons of the French liner Normandie. The gross tonnages of other big transatlantic liners are:—

Majestic . . . . .. 56,598 Berengaria . . . . . . 52,100 Bremen (German) >. * 51,656 Rex (Italian) . . *» 51,600 Europa (German) . . 49,746 Leviathan (U.S.) .. 48,943 Olympic 46,439 Aquitania 45,647 Empress of Britain . . 42,500

Tho gross tonnage of the Mauretania was 30,696.