English & Swimming

How to make Italian liners safer? In Manhattan last week the fact that this problem has just been dealt with by Dictator Benito Mussolini was revealed by a suave, expatriate Roman, Dr. Merigio Serrati, General Manager in the U. S. of the Lloyd Sabaudo Line. Said he:

"Premier Mussolini has decided that the best safety device for Italian vessels in foreign service will be to have the sailors learn English and swimming. Virtually 90% of our passengers speak English, and in case of danger or disaster it is highly desirable that the crew speak their language.

"When a sailor can tell a passenger 'your life boat is to the right' or 'to the left,' as the case may be, it will be a long step toward preventing the likelihood of panic. Moreover, when a man knows how to swim he is much less likely to be scared out of his wits when a ship is in danger." Declaring that his own Lloyd Sabaudo Line had at once begun to teach their crews English and aquatics, Dr. Serrati intimated that all the major Italian carriers would at once follow suit. "Our crews in squads of 25," he said, "will be taught English daily in their mess rooms while our vessels are at sea, and in the ballrooms while the vessels are in port."