MA URETANIA NEARS END OF HER GLORIOUS DAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

MA URETANIA NEARS END OF HER GLORIOUS DAYS.

Famous Ocean GreyhoUnd Going To The Shipbreaker

MAURETANIA is passing X from the Atlantic run to the shipbreaker. The story of this famous ocean greyhound is packed with romance, as the accompanying description, by Alan R. Dower, in the. “Melbourne Herald,” shows. Genuine sorrow has been expressed throughout the shipping world at the decision to retire the famous Cunard liner from active service and place her at the disposal of the shipbreakers. Although her destruction is unavoidable, shiplpvers regard .her fate as being rather an ignominious end to her glorious and faithful career. The “Mary,” like all good ships has the soul of a human being, and has always responded gallantly to the demands of her owners. But now. she is feeling the strain of the strenuous, battling years, and must surrender her proud position to a more modern vessel. If her successor, the mammoth Cunarder, can maintain the traditions established by the Mauretania, Britain will be more than satisfied. When the design of the Mauretania and her sister ship, the Lusitania, was being discussed, vast changes were taking place in the development of. sea transport. Progress in speed, the essential factor, was being accelerated by the keen rivalry of England and Germany for possession of the “Blue Riband of the In 1897, the Kaiser, Wilhelm der Grosse, a fine vessel in the service of the North German Lloyd Company, had captured the honour for Germany and retained; it for 10 years. The task of recovering the lost distinction for Great Britain was assigned to the Mauretania, then in the course of construction at the yards of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson. The attention of all maritime Europe was focussed on her gradual development. She was the British reply to the German challenge. But, with its usual reticence, the Cunard Co. refused to disclose the particulars of its mystery ship, except to say that she would be large, fast, and very luxurious.' The Mauretania was launched from the slipway in 1906, and, in the following year, was ready. for service. Enthusiasm was at its highest when she left the fitting-out berth for exhaustive trials and completed them, to the immense satisfaction of her owners. Then she steamed out into the Atlantic on her maiden voyage, determined to prove her reputed efficacy. It was a memorable day for Britain when the Mauretania * came panting into New York Harbour after having travelled from Queenstown (Ireland) in four days 10 hours 41 minutes, her average speed being 26.06. knots.

Her performance was a high testimony to the ability of British shipbuilders, and especially to the ingenuity of those responsible for her remarkable turbine engines, a recent invention at that time.

It is not too much to assume that the Mauretania is the most famous ship afloat. Certainly no other ship has deserved this privilege, which may be attributed to the fact that she combines high speed with maximum comfort and a conspicuous absence of irritating vibration. During her eventful life she has carried more passengers and covered more miles than any other ship afloat, convincing evidence of her popularity. On the outbreak of the war the Mauretania was claimed by the British Admiralty, saw service in ’theDardanelles as a hospital ship, and later carried thousands of -Canadians and American troops to and from Europe. After the Armistice she-re-, sumed her normal ferry service, and, in 1928, created the speed record from Cherbourg to New York, making the journey m 5 days 2 hours 34 minutes. The successful advent of the German liners Bremen and Europa deprived the- Mauretania of her laurels. The Bremen, on her maiden voyage in July 1929, went from the breakwater at Cherbourg to the Ambrose Channel Lightship, New York har-

bour, in 4 days 17 hours 34 minutes. Nine months later the Europa, present holder of the Blue Riband, established the existing record of 4 davs 17 hours 16 minutes. Since then the Mauretania has made several valiant attempts to regain her lost prestige, but she has been the victim of circumstances. When she departed on her last desperate effort, she met with a. violent storm which considerably retarded her speed, yet the world gasped at her achievement. For in spite. of her. great age, the. Mauretania still appears to be the fastest liner in commission. During her last record-breaking attempt she attained the phenomenal, speed of 29.7 knots! It is not hard to realise, therefore, why the old Cunarder‘is so popular. She has been a good and .faithful servant, no less adored in America than in England, and the world mourns her passing. But Progress is the dictator of our age, and -it is generally agreed that she has already outlived her days.