A FLOATING PALACE.

Otaki Mail, 2 May 1923, Page 4

A FLOATING PALACE.

LEVIATHAN REFLOATED. HUGE COST TO AMERICA. Soon the world's second largest vessel will be seen ill British waters as a passenger liner liinniij:; from Xew York to European ports. This is the Leviathan, formerly th( Vatciland of the Hamburg-American Company, which was seized by tin Ciiitcd States in 1917 and. after hay. ing been used as a troop transpoi t has been refitted to enter the passen- '.:■ r service of the L'nited States Lini s liecondilioning of the enormous ship (which is :o.7t'l.'long, tuoft. bean and has a gross tonnage of 10,, <;:;.< compared with tin While Star lln< -Majestie's G(i,4f>2) wa.s estimated a V.0!,.,... ,i.i dollars. It has actuaJi; eo.-t the United Suites Shipping Boar. which could find no company willinj to lake her off the Government'! hands. S.iifiiu loilar.v, or say ... l .M.0,,ii1)0. Altogether sine. sle was Ink. 1 away from the Gei mans the- expend. of the Lcvialhan to America has be< t £2, o. notwithstanding that. Co lour years Hie huge hulk lay idle il the North River, Xew York, a mass o internal rust, decay and debris, inhab itcd by rats to such an extent tha th" watchmen put aboard could no live in her. and were foiced to se< 1 quarters ashore. Scores of oats were requisitioned i< fight the plague of rats They wee ne'.'.r :f-.n again after b"ius ideas'! on the dee!;-, and not a scrap o feather oi any otlir material or sub stance that hunger could drive th rats to eat was left aboard. Poison -c had to \>< • mployed hg fore n crew could man her to '.nk h.r down to Xewport Xews. Virginia Xi in , with no fewer than I'm !ir;..s contributing, the ship has bee. nans-formed into a veritable palace even surpassing in luxni iousnr-ss th appointments and accommodatioi 'which orginally mace her the raos ' umptuous vessel afloat.