ATLANTIC VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1939, Page 4

ATLANTIC VOYAGE

LINER TRAVELS WITHOUT CONVOY. STRICT PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 10.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 24. Zigzagging on a ten days’ trans-At-lantic voyage, during which lifebelts were worn or carried continuously, was described by New Zealand and Australian passengers aboard a popular English liner which arrived in New York. A majority of the 341 passengers are New Zealanders and Australians returning by the Pacific owing to the uncertainty of the Suez service. The weather was rough and the ship was not convoyed, as she was able to maintain over sixteen knots. She was painted war grey from her mastheads to the waterline and her ports were blacked over and closed at night, making her hot and stuffy,. She carried two guns at the stern. A passenger said: “There was an excellent spirit aboard. Passengers were constantly watching the sea. However the only shots heard were those from our own gun practice. Boredom was the worst enemy and we would almost have welcomed an incident.” He added that the 8.8. C. propaganda was proving effective. w