HUGE LINERS AS FOOD CARRIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1917, Page 7

HUGE LINERS AS FOOD CARRIERS.

WHAT THE ALLIES ARE DOING.

From the reports in American shipping circles it is evident (says a U.S. paper) that Great Britain, in conjunction with France, had decided to take quick action on the warning given by Mr. Lloyd George with regard to the German submarine menace. The rumor that seven gigantic passenger steamships, which aro building or have been engaged in trans-Atlantic service, will be converted into freight ships and carry foodstuffs from the United States to England and France is fairly well substantiated. Armed and remodelled, those great vessels would give the Allies 300,000 more gross tonnuge to be utilised for taking necessities to England and France.

Tho seven vessels to be converted for this work are the Statendam, the Olympic, tho Mauretama, the Aqiiitania, the Belgenland, the France, and the Paris. The Statendam is a vessel of 35,O u . tons and was being built in England for the Holhnd-Anicrica line at tho beginning of the war. Shei was taken over by the British Government, and used as an auxiliary cruisor and transport. The Olympic, of tho White Pttar line, is of 40,000 tons. She lias great speed and for many months lias been used by the British Government in transporting troops fro)n Canada to England. The Mauritania, of the Cunard line, sister ship of the Lusitania and holder of the trans-Atlantic speed record between New York and Liverpool, is of 33,000 tons. At -Se beginning of the war she was taken over by the British Government and was used at the Dardan-. elles as both transport and hospital ship.

•LARGEST CUNARD LINK SHIP. The Aqritania, «Iso of the C«'n»rd.line, is the largest and latest of the licet. Sho has served the British Government 1 " as a transport and hospital, ship. Sho is of 46,000 tons.

The Franca is the finest steamsjup of tho French line and, the largest vessel flying the tricolor. She ib of 33,000* Jons. Tho Paris is the latest of the French Star line. She is of 33,000 tons, and has been used for transport and hospital purposes.

At tlie beginning of the war tho Belgenland had just been competed for'tho Red boats, and is being finished at ai. Nazaire. V hile her tonnage is not known, slje is a larger vessel than the France. The average speed of these" vessels ia twenty-two Knots. This gives vtheni'an advantage over all submarines, with the proper amount of watchfulness. Any ofthese ships could outrun the under water boats, but it was unofficially stated thpy will not have to care for themselves iiijtho danger znoes, as a, heavy convoy o#j destroyers will accompany them on all trips east and west. Some time ago it), wao rumored that these*'vessels converted into food and munition ■ earn riers, but'nothing was done.