"VICTORY SHIP"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 7

"VICTORY SHIP"

BUILT FOR KAISER'S WORLD CRUISE FLOATING PALACE IN SYDNEY Tho fortunes oif war have brought under tho Australian Mag a palatial, steamer—one which, is said to have beem specially constructed to take the Kaisei; and his family around tho world after, tho Germans had won tho war. luioivni formerly as the Wahehe, the steamer wiil shortly sail Irom Sydney under the name of Marclla, under tho auspices of Burns, Philp and Co. It has beon decided to draft the Maredla into the Sydney-Singapore trade, and she will bo the most elaborate vessel in. southern waters.

An inspection of tho Marella reveals tho wonderful amount of detail employed by the Germans in her construction, says the Sydney "Sun." Tho Marella was undoubtedly built for a special mission, for no shipbuilder would attempt 6uch expense on an. SOOO-tou steam, ar. Everywhere there is luxury. All the fittings, even, to tho carpet-holders, aro of German silver. The music hall surpasses anything previously seen in Australia. It is about 80ft. long and 60ft. wide. Constructed entirely of beautifully marked marble, it is! so lighted (hat some wonderful effects are ohtaiued. On the largo marble panels aro painted beautiful pictures, three of which are scenes of the South African coast. There is in the musio hall an electric piano. For the highor-eljs.l music lover a grand concert piano ia available.

Tho smoke-room resembles an apartment in Potsdam Palace. Never has such luxury been installed on a steamer. The room is big and airy. The marble walls, like those in the- music room, boar fine paintings. If the day should be hot, the pressing of a button set,? Hi motion many fans. Should the weather bo cold buttons set in operation steam heaters and' radiators. Then there is a _ quaint, old-fashioned fireplace. To fill it would require at least 2001b. of coal Captain Macfarlane. who brought the Marella to Sydney, stated that tho smoke-room represents a room in a German palace. "She is truly a iwnl ship.", he said. ■•

Swimming pools on liners are not tincommon The Germans in the building of the Marclla went one better. It had apparently been arranged that the vessel should visit hie tropics after the war. for instead of putting the bathing pool }°™ !> e '°»'. as in other shins, it was built right on top of the boat deck, above everything. The poo! is six feet doep. and long enough to give swimmers good oxercise/ Entrance is made by steps, nml should be bather find the water too cold; all ho needs do is press a button and the steam heaters do the rest. Provision has been made for sun baking beside (ha pool.

The gymnasium, like everything elso, is electrically controlled. -V S pecini mn tomatic body- massaging Machine- is ii wonderful invention. .All that, has to he done by the travellnr is to divest himself of clothing, sit in n chair, press the button, and the machine soon vibrates over the body. For those who feel oif-eolonc owing to the movemonts of the ship, -here is a mncltine which, it is claimed, vj'Mks more efficiently than any medicine. T-ho passenger kneels on two pads, mid then commences a joggle which shakes off all the effects of the soa. Then there are ninny other contrivances, all of which are supposed to bo used before the passengor dives into the swimming pool, which adjoins tho gymnasium. Nothing has been left undone which' might toncl to make tho?e aboard spend peaceful nights. Tlio rooms arc mora like .those at a high-class hotel. In the doiihio rooms there arc two spring beds—not buns—eloctric heaters and cooling fans, a. small sled burglar and iirc proof safo. 'there is also an ingenious device beside Hie beds to enable the sleeper to so hanghis watcli tint no matter in which position ho might bo tho face of tho timekeeper points at him. Without ge.ltiui? ■otil. of bed tho sleeper can heat or cool tho room, open windows, brin.g stewards and stewardesses, and, in fact, anyone aboard the ship at his command. There can bo no foul air aboard tho alarella. An ozone-producing machine cleans out every hole and corner in tho vessel every few minutes. Brill another wonder is to be found on lho navigating bridge. Many a time a man at tho wheel swear.-? he has followed the course set by his superior oflicor, hut o;t other ships there is no way of proving 'k other than trusting to the log. Oni tlio s.7ire!.ln, however, it is different. An. automatic course recorder traces the course nt every turn nf t.he screws, and. sj puts at rest any question as to what course the man at l.h« v.-|i««l has taken.