Titanic Tidbits

News and info ..................

Cunard-White Star merger reported imminent.

May revive work on Cunard's "biggest." Italian Line captures

transatlantic blue ribbon with speedy voyage of Rex.

German shipping had it's fling at the headlines 3 years ago when the

Bremen and Europa rushed into transatlantic fame by capturing the blur

ribbon of the Atlantic for speed - held for more than 20 years by the

Mauretania of the Cunard Line.

Scarcely had these North German Lloyd liners won this victory when

Lloyd, with Hamburg American, set the pace in shipping competition by

pooling services and schedules (BW - Apr 2 '30). The project never

developed into a genuine merger until Chancellor Hitler stepped into

power in Berlin. Reorganization now is much more complete. Rival pride

is going by the boards and is replaced by genuine economics.

Italy pushed into the limelight a year ago when all Italian shipping

was rationalized by Mussolini. Competing lines in the North America

service were put under central control and schedules of the 3 old

lines were reorganized under the single direction of the Italian Line.

Then came the Rex and the Conti di Savoia seeking the cream of the

luxury traffic to Europe for the southern route. Only last week the

Rex raced across the Atlantic from Gibraltar in slightly more than 4

days, captured for the Mussolini fleet the blue ribbon which North

German Lloyd has held. In "Steamship Row" in New York there is talk of

friendly competition for the record from the Savoia.

The British lines pushed into the limelight this week with the rumor

that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is about to announce the merging

of the 2 great British shipping lines in the North Atlantic Trade,

3

Cunard and White Star. Almost simultaneous with the announcement, the

British government is expected to back a public bond issue of £2 1/2

millions to finance the completion of Cunard's mystery ship - No. 534

- still standing in the building stocks along the Clyde with only the

hull completed.

Depression Pinched Both

The news is no surprise. Like all other shipping lines, Cunard and

White Star have both felt the pinch of the depression. Both have asked

for aid in meeting the competition of government subsidizes vessels in

the highly competitive North Atlantic service. White Star has just

gone through a purging in the general "wash-up" of the Royal Mail

Steam Packet Co. (a Lord Kylsant holding until he was found guilty of

fraud), of which it is a part.

When the 2 companies first asked for government aid, they were warned

that it would be given only after they had worked out a merger plan

which would bring about healthy cooperation in place of the keen

competition which they now offer each other. Both lines operate

4

between channel ports and New York. They have, together, some of the

fastest vessels on the run. Cunard schedules the Berengaria, the

Aquitania, and - when not in the special cruise service - the

Mauretania. White Star features the Majestic and the Olympic, fills

the new cabin class motor vessels - Britannic and Georgic - on every

crossing.

Another "Greatest"

Cunard's new super-liner was planned before the depression. It was to

cost more than $30 millions, was to gross 73,000 tons, and probably

compete with the fastest liners in the service. Every modern marine

luxury was to be included from air-conditioned public rooms to special

arrangements for carrying automobiles. Only a few weeks ago King

George dedicated the new drydock in Southampton built especially to

accommodate the new giant, and a sister ship which was planned to

maintain a weekly service between New York and Channel ports. There is

no prospect that the second vessel will be built now, even under the

merged management.

5

France is having financial difficulties with her great contender in

the North Atlantic trade - the French Line - but with government aid

is continuing construction of the Normandie, to be the largest vessel

afloat, to compete in speed and luxury "with the best." The Normandie

is progressing slowly, will probably schedule its maiden voyage as

soon as there is signs of a genuine pickup in transatlantic passenger

travel

* * *