THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



ticular had produced fast boats, such as the Deutsch- 

 land and Kaiser Wilhelm II, which for several years 

 held the ocean record for speed. But meanwhile the 

 turbine engine was being perfected in England, the 

 land of its invention, and presently turbine "grey- 

 hounds" began crossing the ocean and menacing the 

 records held by the boats equipped with the older 

 type of engine. 



The reciprocating marine engine, however, had been 

 steadily improved, until it was a marvel in efficiency. 

 Quadruple expansion engines driving twin-screws of a 

 size and shape known to develop the greatest efficiency, 

 for several years offered invincible competition to the 

 new type of engine. There were new conditions to be 

 met, new difficulties to be overcome. 



A decisive test of the merits of the turbine engine was 

 given in 1905, when the Cunard Company built two 

 vessels, the Caronia and Carmania, of exactly the same 

 size and shape, the Caronia having the highest type of 

 quadruple expansion reciprocating engines, while the 

 Carmania was equipped with turbine engines. Here 

 was a fair test of efficiency between the two types. And 

 the turbine boat proved herself the better of the two by 

 developing more than a knot greater speed per hour. 



Still the Carmania offered no serious competition in 

 speed to several of the German flyers. But in 1908 

 two more turbine ships, the Lusitania and Mauretania 

 began making regular transatlantic voyages, and 

 quickly distanced all competitors. 



In size as well as in speed these sister ships mark an 

 epoch in navigation. Turbine engines take the place 



[82] 



