346 : The Atlantic 



days, seven hours and twenty-three minutes. A really important 

 shattering of records commenced with the launching of the Lusi- 

 tania and the Mauretania. The Lusitania hit her stride first, drop- 

 ping the record for the run from Queenstown to New York to four 

 days and fifteen hours. The Mauretania began to step out in 1910, 

 dropping the record from Queenstown to New York to four days, 

 ten hours and forty-one minutes. Eleven years later, that is, in 1921, 

 she made the longer run from Cherbourg to New York in five days, 

 two hours and thirty-four minutes and three years later capped this 

 by an eastward passage of five days, one hour and forty-nine minutes. 



In 1929 she established for this run a record of four days, nineteen 

 hours and fifty-five minutes. In short, the Mauretania was still a 

 record-holder twenty-two years after she was launched and in the 

 twentieth year of her age was able to steam to the rescue of another 

 ship at the rate of twenty-nine knots. In 1929 the North German 

 Lloyd motor vessel Bremen beat the Mauretania's record by making 

 the run from Cherbourg to New York in four days, seventeen hours 

 and forty-two minutes, which was at the rate of 28.18 knots. Later 

 that year she reduced her record for this run by eighteen minutes 

 and hung up her record for the eastbound passage of four days and 

 fourteen hours. 



Somewhat to everyone's surprise, the current champion is an 

 American product. In mid-century, with support from the Federal 

 government and technical assistance from the United States Navy, 

 a modern liner has been built in the United States that is satisfactory 

 as a passenger vessel and also so carefully planned and technically 

 equipped that she can prove of value as a potential naval auxiliary 

 for some time to come. The United States is 990 feet long with a 

 loiYi foot beam and 53,330 gross tons, driven by four high tempera- 

 ture high pressure steam turbines. 



When the United States sailed on July 3, 1952, a hundred years had 

 passed without any American steam or motor liners holding a trans- 

 atlantic record or even supplying close competion for a record. On her 

 maiden voyage the new ship established many records, the most im- 

 portant of which, of course, are those for the eastward and westward 

 crossing between Ambrose Light and Bishop's Rock. Her eastward 

 run was three days, ten hours, forty minutes at an average speed of 

 35.59 knots, westward three days, twelve hours, twelve minutes — 

 34.51 knots. 



The great liner has become one of mankind's important discov- 

 eries and technical developments. There was a natural fascination 



