Service to Channel Ports Also to be Installed by Cunard Line
---
WILL RIVAL GERMAN BOATS
---
Mails to Two-thirds of England and All Scotland and Ireland Will Be
Delayed by This Action
---
The announcement of the White Star Line that the company intends to
establish a line of steamships between New York and Channel ports was
widely discussed in shipping circles yesterday. This action, it is said,
was forced by the fact that the Cunard Line has had the same plan under
consideration, and it is simply a question of a short time when that
line will also enter the competition for Continental traffic. In view of
the great tide of American tourist traffic pouring into France, which
each year grows larger, the advantage of having Liverpool for a landing
place each year becomes less.
When the new Cunard turbines Mauritania and Lusitania are put into
commission this year, it is believed that the Cunard people will
establish a line to Channel ports, stopping at Plymouth, Cherbourg, and
Southampton. The effect of this move will be far reaching, for it will
mean that the two British lines, long rivals at Liverpool, will attempt
to take away from the German lines the cream of the Continental traffic,
which they have been gradually absorbing. The rivalry at present is
between the North German Lloyd and the Hamburg-American Line, and though
there is a working agreement between them, both have exerted every
effort to capture the best part of the Channel trade.
Now, with both British lines putting their finest vessels into the new
service, things will change. It will mean a reduction in the receipts of
the German lines as well as of the American and French lines, and they
must do something. The North German Lloyd Line will soon put in
commission its new steamship Kronprinzessin Cecilie, which is capable of
making twenty-four knots, it is said, and a worthy rival of the Adriatic
of the White Star Line and the new Cunard Line turbines.
How the Hamburg-American Line will meet the new condition is a matter
of conjecture. It has been experimenting with turbines in Germany, and
it is asserted that it has found a system which will equal if not
surpass the Parsons turbines. Rumor has it that the next vessel added to
the Hamburg line will be equipped with turbine engines, be lighter of
hull, and capable of great speed.
At the offices of the Cunard Line, the White Star Line move was talked
over yesterday. Vernon H. Brown, the American agent of the Cunard Line,
would not discuss the intended move of his company. It was said that the
news of such a change must come from the home office of the company in
Liverpool.
A representative of one of the German lines said:
"The question of any intended more on the part of the Cunard Line is
complicated by the fact that the British Government lent the money for
the construction of its two best vessels, and I do not think it will
allow the company to abandon the Liverpool route. Besides, there is the
mail contract to consider."
The Continental competition promises to be keen. With the advent of the
best British liners into the Channel service, the interest in Atlantic
records will increase.
**********
LONDON, Jan. 7---The decision of the White Star Line to remove part of
its service from Liverpool to Southampton is considered to be a
significant and far-reaching movement on the part of the British lines
to regain control of the passenger traffic to and from the Continent.
It is generally considered to be preliminary to similar action on the
part of other British lines, particularly the Cunard Line. In answer to
an inquiry at the Cunard offices this evening a representative of The
Associated Press was officially informed that though no immediate
changes were expected, the Directors of the company have had the matter
under consideration for a long time, and that it is simply a question of
time when the line will avail itself of the facilities offered by
Channel ports.
There was an unconfirmed rumor in Liverpool to-night that two other
lines contemplated transferring some of their steamers to other ports.
Southampton already is preparing to make heavy expenditures, including
the construction of docks capable of receiving the largest liners at any
stage of the tide.
Another feature of the proposed change which is arousing strong feeling
is the effect on the arrival of the American mails. It is contended that
the mails will be greatly delayed by the adoption of the Southampton
route. At the monthly meeting of the Urban Council of Queenstown, held
to-day, this aspect of the change was strongly criticised, and it was
pointed out that to send the malls to Southampton would inconvenience
two-thirds of the business people of England and the whole of Scotland
and Ireland.
A committee of the Council was appointed to consider the whole matter,
and this committee will co-operate with other public bodies in the
United Kingdom.
---
WILL RIVAL GERMAN BOATS
---
Mails to Two-thirds of England and All Scotland and Ireland Will Be
Delayed by This Action
---
The announcement of the White Star Line that the company intends to
establish a line of steamships between New York and Channel ports was
widely discussed in shipping circles yesterday. This action, it is said,
was forced by the fact that the Cunard Line has had the same plan under
consideration, and it is simply a question of a short time when that
line will also enter the competition for Continental traffic. In view of
the great tide of American tourist traffic pouring into France, which
each year grows larger, the advantage of having Liverpool for a landing
place each year becomes less.
When the new Cunard turbines Mauritania and Lusitania are put into
commission this year, it is believed that the Cunard people will
establish a line to Channel ports, stopping at Plymouth, Cherbourg, and
Southampton. The effect of this move will be far reaching, for it will
mean that the two British lines, long rivals at Liverpool, will attempt
to take away from the German lines the cream of the Continental traffic,
which they have been gradually absorbing. The rivalry at present is
between the North German Lloyd and the Hamburg-American Line, and though
there is a working agreement between them, both have exerted every
effort to capture the best part of the Channel trade.
Now, with both British lines putting their finest vessels into the new
service, things will change. It will mean a reduction in the receipts of
the German lines as well as of the American and French lines, and they
must do something. The North German Lloyd Line will soon put in
commission its new steamship Kronprinzessin Cecilie, which is capable of
making twenty-four knots, it is said, and a worthy rival of the Adriatic
of the White Star Line and the new Cunard Line turbines.
How the Hamburg-American Line will meet the new condition is a matter
of conjecture. It has been experimenting with turbines in Germany, and
it is asserted that it has found a system which will equal if not
surpass the Parsons turbines. Rumor has it that the next vessel added to
the Hamburg line will be equipped with turbine engines, be lighter of
hull, and capable of great speed.
At the offices of the Cunard Line, the White Star Line move was talked
over yesterday. Vernon H. Brown, the American agent of the Cunard Line,
would not discuss the intended move of his company. It was said that the
news of such a change must come from the home office of the company in
Liverpool.
A representative of one of the German lines said:
"The question of any intended more on the part of the Cunard Line is
complicated by the fact that the British Government lent the money for
the construction of its two best vessels, and I do not think it will
allow the company to abandon the Liverpool route. Besides, there is the
mail contract to consider."
The Continental competition promises to be keen. With the advent of the
best British liners into the Channel service, the interest in Atlantic
records will increase.
**********
LONDON, Jan. 7---The decision of the White Star Line to remove part of
its service from Liverpool to Southampton is considered to be a
significant and far-reaching movement on the part of the British lines
to regain control of the passenger traffic to and from the Continent.
It is generally considered to be preliminary to similar action on the
part of other British lines, particularly the Cunard Line. In answer to
an inquiry at the Cunard offices this evening a representative of The
Associated Press was officially informed that though no immediate
changes were expected, the Directors of the company have had the matter
under consideration for a long time, and that it is simply a question of
time when the line will avail itself of the facilities offered by
Channel ports.
There was an unconfirmed rumor in Liverpool to-night that two other
lines contemplated transferring some of their steamers to other ports.
Southampton already is preparing to make heavy expenditures, including
the construction of docks capable of receiving the largest liners at any
stage of the tide.
Another feature of the proposed change which is arousing strong feeling
is the effect on the arrival of the American mails. It is contended that
the mails will be greatly delayed by the adoption of the Southampton
route. At the monthly meeting of the Urban Council of Queenstown, held
to-day, this aspect of the change was strongly criticised, and it was
pointed out that to send the malls to Southampton would inconvenience
two-thirds of the business people of England and the whole of Scotland
and Ireland.
A committee of the Council was appointed to consider the whole matter,
and this committee will co-operate with other public bodies in the
United Kingdom.
Comment and discuss