WHITE STAR LINER “OLYMPIC.'’

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11855, 11 June 1919, Page 6

WHITE STAR LINER “OLYMPIC.'’

I TRANSFER FROM WHITE TO RED ENSIGN. HER REMARKABLE WAR RECORD. An epoch-making event in the history of the White Star liner Olympic took place recently during the period that the liner was berthed in the Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, when, after serving as a naval unit on his Majesty’s service, she was transferred to the “Royal” Merchant Service. The ceremony of rom the White to the Red Ensign was made the occasion of a very interesting event on board the ship yesterday afternoon, when a representative gathering of British and United States naval and military officials, representatives of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, and officials of the company were entertained at luncheon by the managers of the White Star Line in order to mark in a fitting manner such an important event. On the outbreak of war in August, 1914, the Olympic was on route to New York, and from then until October of the same year she was engaged in the Atlantic passenger service. She then proceeded to Belfast, and in September of the following year she ■was requisitioned by the Government as a transport, and made four voyages to Mudyos with troops. She continued undfr the Red Ensign until April, 1917, when she was taken over by the Admiralty, and the White Ensign was hoisted at Glasgow, and during the war period the Olympic has carried 41,334 passengers, 24,600 troops to and 'from Mudros, 80,088 men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 42,835 United ' States Expeditionary Force, 12,813 I Chinese labour units, a grand total of 201,040 persons without one life being lost, a record of which Captain Bertram F. Hayes, C. M. G., D. S. 0., R.N. R., the commander of the Olympic, and the White Star Line have every reason to bo proud. When the Olympic is undocked from the Gladstone Dock and placed in commission she will be known as H.M. transport. During the war the Olympic steamed 84,000 miles and consumed 347,000 tons of coal without having had the slightest delay of any kind, or accident to machinery. The Olympic, one of the largest steamers in the world, "is 882% feet long and 92% feet broad, and has a gross tonnage of 46,359 tons. There I are ten decks in the ship, seven of which are for the use of passengers She has accommodation for over 2400 passengers, including 750 first class. For the use of these latter travellers there are three exceptionally fine promenade decks on this liner, one being over 500 feet long, and in parts exceeding 30 feet wide. The first-class accommodation includes dining saloon (which will accommodate 554 passengers at one sitting), restaurant, cafe Parisien, lounge, reception rooms, drawing ;room, reading room, smoking room, reran- : dah cafe, palm court, gymnasium, squash racquet court, Turkish bath, ] electric baths, swimming bath, pas- , senger elevators, suites of rooms j with bath and toilet, and wardrobe rooms, etc., etc. The first-class state-rooms are arranged to accommodate one, tw® and three passengers. The 550 second-class passengers which can be carried have been ; very generously provided for. The i second-class saloon extends the full j length of the ship. This room has 1 been handsomely pannelled in oak. ] The second-class passenger accom- c modation also includes library, t smoke room, two handsome stair- i cases (one of which extends through 1 seven decks), an electric passenger ] elevator extending through six decks, etc. The second-class state- ! rooms are arranged as two and four berth rooms. The accommodation for third-class passengers is of a very superior character, the public rooms being large airy apartments, suitably furnished, and in excellent positions, and the same applies to the state-rooms and berths. The third-class dining room is situated amidships on the middle deck, and extends the full width of the ship. In this saloon there is seating accommodation for no fewer . than 470 passengers. A smoke room and general room are also included among the third-class apartments. In the third-class there is accommodation for over IKK) passengers, and this includes no fewer than 84 twoberth state-rooms. To add, as it were, a finishing touch t© the excellent provision made for the comfort and w T e4l-being of third-class passengers, there is a large apartment arranged under the forecastle as a third-class promenade, and fitted with tables and seats, so as to be useful in any kind of weather. Apart from the 2400 passengers, this palatial steamer has a crew r of 900, making in all a total' carrying capa - city of 3300. The Olympic is engaged in the Southampton-Oher-bourg-New York service of the White Star Line.