STRANGE VOYAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21057, 8 March 1940, Page 5

STRANGE VOYAGE

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC LAID UP FOR DURATION (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 7 The world’s largest liner, the Queen Elizabeth has successfully and secretly crossed the Atlantic on her maiden voyage. Within a few hours she will be safely berthed in New York harbour alter one of the strangest voyages in history. The journey was uneventful. There was not a single alarm during the voyage, which was accomplished in the average time taken by the Queen Mary. The ship carried no passengers, but her tanks were packed full of fuel in case news of U-boats necessitated deviations from her course. It is revealed that the Queen Elizabeth left the fitting-out basin at John Brown’s yard, Clydebank, on February 26 on the first stage of her voyage. She grounded at the difficult bend where the Queen Mary similarly encountered trouble. It took eight tugs 40 minutes to clear her from the bank. It is surmised that the Queen Elizabeth is to be laid up in New York harbour for the duration of the war, with the Queen Mary, Normandie and Mauretania. Most Spectacular Voyage An announcement was made last June that the liner would move from the fitting-out basin on February 26. ! and she actually departed on that day. The fitting-out was carried through in spite of the war. The news of the voyage is given great prominence in the British and American press. The New York Times states that it was the most spectacular voyage in maritime history. Another commentator states that it is a great victory for Mr Churchill over the U-boats. COMPLETE SECRECY LOYALTY OF WORKERS PRIDE IN COMMONSENSE (omciai Wireless) (Received March 8, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, March 7 The unobtrusive departure of the j Queen Elizabeth down the Clyde ; from the builders’ yard on February j 26 was seen only by some hundred ■ people, in striking contrast to the tens of thousands of spectators who saw the departure of her sister ship, the Queen Mary.

The Daily Herald comments:— “ Careless talk may betray vital secrets. When you consider how many people must have known some part of this secret, because it was their job to do so, you may feel proud of the loyalty and common sense of the British workers.”

NEW YORK THRILLED AN ALL-NIGHT VIGIL FOLLOWED LINER’S PROGRESS SABOTAGE SQUAD ON PIER (United Press Assn.—Eieu. Tel. Copyright (Received March 8, 11 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 7 Fascinated by the adventure of the great ship which is the namesake of the Queen who captivated their hearts during her visit last year, thousands of New Yorkers kept an all-night radio vigil as the staffs of the broadcasting studios remained on duty issuing bulletins regarding the liner’s progress on her maiden voyage from the lilting-out basin on the Clydebank. Before daybreak planes carrying newspapermen, radiomen and photographers flew out to sea. In the Battery Park and in the Manhattan streets near the Cunard Company’s piers, crowds had gathered since dawn, and hundreds more congregated in the top skyscraper apartments and were ready with a fitting salute to the grey-painted Queen Elizabeth. Two hundred and fifty police watched the crowds and a sabotage squad was stationed on the pier. Make Room For Other Ships According to New York press reports the Queen Elizabeth, which arrived at quarantine in New York harbour this morning, crossed the Atlantic in order to make room for other ships in British harbours. Especially during wartime every available berth is required to meet the ceaseless stream of shipping which enters Britain’s ports. There is intense interest in the Queen Elizabeth’s exploit, which is hailed as the most spectacular and most dangerous maiden voyage in history. It has been known here for some time that workmen were rushing the vessel to completion, as she offered an easy target on the Clyde. Moreover, the crowding of the narrow river has been making it difficult to move warships. In addition. the insurance costs in England are tremendous, and as the Cunard Company leases a pier at New York it will save considerably by laying the ship up here. The Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and Normandie, the world’s largest and fastest liners, representing 115,000,000 dollars, will lie at* adjoining piers under a constant police guard. A police-boat on the river will play a searchlight on them throughout each right. The Jean Bart, the second of i France’s four battleships under con- j struction, has been launched. 1