CEDRIC V. KAISER WILLIAM II.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1903, Page 4

CEDRIC V. KAISER WILLIAM 11.

Commenting on the launch of thoNorddcutscher Lloyd “flier,” the Kaiser Wilhelm If,, and the White Star Cedric, the largest ship in the world, the Shipping World gives some interesting comparative figures. Tno former is to cross the Atlantic at the speed of twenty-four kno‘s and will have engines to develop 10,000 indicated horse power, while the Briiish ship will obtain seventeen knots, with 14.000 horse power. The two boats represent German and Brithh policy at the present moment. To gain her 10 per cent in speed the Kaiser Wilhelm II will burn 190 per cent, more coal—about 750 tons per day; she requires 256 more hands to work her, while of her 600 hands only 45 will be ordinary sailors, the remainder being mostly mechanics of various kinds, and sho must forego the carrying of some 1200 passengers and 15.000 to 20,000 tons of cargo every voyage. Such is the price of speed, and the moral to bo drawn from the launch of the latest great German ship is that there are plenty willing to pay heavily to cross the Atlantic at the best speed. The tendency of Br.tish shipowners is to cheapen freights by employing steamers of very large tonnage. Wo have not been singular in tins respect, only where foreign nations have built one such ship we have built a dozen. Of tho largest class of ships 225 belong to Great Britain, 81 to Germany, 31 to America, 18 to France, 11 to Russia, and 4 to Holland.