180 Book of Steamships 



line, and at first sight they would appear 

 to be against speed, but it was an inven- 

 tion of an American naval man, and it has 

 been found to help the ship to attain a 

 great pace. 



Up to the present there has been no 

 British reply to these fast German ships; 

 indeed, since the War our companies have 

 largely rested upon their laurels. What 

 replacements were necessary in the fleets, 

 apart from the mammoth vessels obtained 

 from Germany, have been made by what 

 we may term the average size liner, that 

 is to say, ships of 20,000 tons and moderate 

 speed. The Cunard built several with this 

 tonnage, and they are excellent ships in 

 every way, but by no means record 

 breakers. 



Curiously enough, on other seas an 

 approach has been made to Atlantic 

 dimensions, speed and comfort, thus both 

 the P. & O. and Orient Lines have pro- 

 duced very fine steamships with a tonnage 

 of 20,000, and a speed of 20 knots. Time 



