FRENCH LINER

Southland Times, Issue 25303, 5 June 1935, Page 7

FRENCH LINER

RECORD BROKEN FAST CROSSING OF ATLANTIC 31 KNOTS TOUCHED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) New York, June 3. The French liner Normandie has completed her maiden voyage, having made the fastest northern lane crossing of the Atlantic, from Southampton to New York, in 4 days 11 hours 33 minutes, almost three hours better than the record of the Bremen. From noon on Saturday till noon on Sunday she made the fastest day’s. run of 748 knots, her average speed of 29.92 knots beating the Italian liner Rexs mark of 29.36 knots. The best hours speed was 31.39 knots, the highest ever attained by a liner.

The Normandie, the flagship of the French Line, inaugurates a new era in ocean travel. Her length is 1029 feet; gross tonnage, 79,280; height from keel to top of chart room, 128 feet. She was built at the historic Penhoet Shipyards at St. Nazaire, and her keel was laid in 1931. It is said that the ship is larger than the Queen Mary, now nearing completion, because she possesses a bigger gross tonnage. Before a ship has been finished and officially measured, however, gross tonnage is an elusive figure. It is not a weight measurement at fall, but a measurement of the volume of a ship’s enclosed space, a gross ton being the equivalent of 100 cubic feet.

The vessel has been designed for speed, with all the graceful lines of a cruiser, and is propelled by the newest turbo-electric system which makes for smoothness, power and quietness. Each of the four electric motors which drive the screws develop 160,000 horsepower. Four alternators, driven by four steam turbines, deliver a three-phase current of 5000 volts to these motors, while 29 gigantic water-tube •'boilers supply steam at a pressure of 400 pounds a square inch to the turbines. In her public rooms the Normandie reflects the very latest developments in the arts and crafts of France. as applied to marine architecture. High windows rising through two ‘ decks dominate the spacious grand salon, whose decorations in lacquer and decorated glass take their designs from ships of every period in history. Floor and furniture covers are in the same pattern. Walls of moulded glass, set off by bas-reliefs Normandy scenes in bold against red marble, make the main dining salon a room of rare beauty. Almost as long, as a football field, it is equipped with the most modern air-conditioning system. Leading from the smoking room to the cafe-grill is an impressive staircase surmounted by a bronze figure representing Normandy. Living plants against a colourful background of coromandel lacquex- give a distinctive note to its decoration. The swimming pool, 75 feet by 19 feet, is surrounded by a five-foot frieze executed from special designs by the makers of the famous Sevres porcelain. Floors and ceiling are of blue enamel. At the end of the pool is a circular bar of gilded bronze. Two large panels representing Norman Peace and Norman Conquest form the principal decoration of the galeric salon. Four bas-reliefs showing incidents in the maritime history of Normandy give added interest to the room.

Opening from the cafe-grill is an open terrace, floored in teak with ornamentations in mahogany. Benches with high glass backs act as protection 'against the wind. A towering statue of a Water Divinity adds an unusual note. A complete theatre and large chapel are also included among the public rooms. Nearly all the bedrooms are fitted with both fresh and salt water and rare woods are used in the decoration scheme. A private, terrace is a feature of most of the suites.

It is interesting to note that each of the Normandie’s three giant funneis is so large that it could easily hold both tubes of the Holland vehicular tunnel which links New York with New Jersey under the Hudson river. The forward funnel is as tall as the average six-storey building. The Normandie carries first, tourist and third class passengers.