156 Guests of Sir Ashley Sparks Pay Tribute to Commander's War Aid
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HE PRAISES HIS VESSEL
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Is Fastest and Finest Merchant Ship Afloat, He Says--Many Captains Present
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One hundred and fifty-six guests attended the dinner given last night on board the Cunarder Mauretania by Sir Ashley Sparks, Director and General Manager of the company in New York, in honor of Captain Arthur H. Rostron, C. B. E., R. D., R. N. R., the commander of the ship, which his just been converted into an oil burner and regained her old speed as a record-breaker.

In presenting the Captain to the guests Sir Ashley Sparks spoke of his war record and of the fine achievements of the Mauretania in rushing troops to Gallipoli, when she eclipsed all her previous speed records.

In his reply Captain Rostron said that in his opinion the Mauretania was the fastest and finest merchant vessel afloat and that she would beat all her past records in the Atlantic during the coming Summer. Former Governor of New York Alfred E. Smith spoke as a Port authority and said that he hoped New York and New Jersey would work together to bring back to the port all its former prestige. He also praised the ship. Darwin F. Kingsley, who followed him, dwelt upon the great need of a better understanding between the United States and Great Britain for their common benefit and for that of the world at large.

Among those present were Captain Gloster Armstrong, the British Consul General; Delos W. Cooke, assistant director of the Cunard Line in New York; Captain E. G. Diggle of the Caronia, Captain James Blaikie of the Cameronla; Justice Victor J. Dowling, Captain George Gibbons, ex-Governor Alfred E. Smith, James Lawler, H. P. Howell, Captain R. G. Palfrey, Marine Superintendent of the line; Fred Sterry of the Hotel Plaza; Harry Rascovar, H. Bronner, Captain H. H. Nevanas, Marine Superintendent of Norton, Lilley & Co.; H. J. Wigham and others.