The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, JULY 28, 1913. A GREAT LINER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 70, 28 July 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED T HE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, JULY 28, 1913. A GREAT LINER.

The largest liner yet built, after a successful series of trials, completed 'her maiden voyage to New York in jfast time. The most important feature of the Imperator, as the huge floating 150,000 tons palace is named, is'the wonderfully complete precautions taken by her designers to guard against J the open perils and hidden dangers jof the deep. With the Titanic disaster fresh in mind, no effort has been spared to make the ship unsinkahle, and the owners of the Imperator I (reasonably claim that in the matter of safety the vessel is all that human j j ingenuity has yet been able to devise. |Tlie double" skin protecting the sides comes high above the water-line: there jare more bulkheads than the Titanic [had, and longitudinal sections as well. [By way of experiment four bulkheads I were flooded, and the ship only sank |one foot deeper in the water. In fact, |it is asserted by the company that, ;if the Imperator met with the accident which befel the Titanic, she would be able to proceed under her own steam to New York. In addition to these important safeguards, one first-class deck is occupied by the lifeboats, of which there are eighty-three,

two being motor-boats. These provide accommodation for 5.500, and as

Iho full complement of passengers and crew is 5300 there is a considerable margin. The lowering of the boats is done by machinery, so arranged that one man can manipulate it. During a test at sen boat after boat was lowered, and though the crew had had no

previous experience, the average time taken was only fifteen seconds. The vessel is under the supreme command of Commander Ruser, the commodore of the fleet, and under him arc one captain and three reserve captains. Then there are one chief office)', three second officers, two third officers, and one fourth officer, all of whom have masters' certificates. The number of officers of experience and each possessing the necessary qualifications to take control of the ship is therefore exceptional, and provides against a possible hreak-down of the commander under any strain or responsibility. Nothing lias yet been attempted to equal the luxury of sea travelling with the ar-j rangements on hoard this greatest of i modern ocean liners. The Imperatorj has no less than five classes of accommodation, two Imperial suites, a first, second and third class and a steerage. Each of the millionaire suites, which in the height of the season, it is stated, will cost £IOOO for the voyage, provides accommodation for six passengers and four servants. There is a marvellous saloon, used as a drawingroom by day and a ball-room by night, which is 72ft long by 58ft wide, and 18ft high. The walls are covered with choice tapestries, and great bow windows look out on the water. Shorelife at sea is imitated on board the Imperator to perfection, and nearly all the disagreeable accompaniments of an ocean voyage are completely overcome in this very wonderful ship. That the enterprising owners may have better fortune than experienced with some of their ventures is, sincerely to be hoped.