Big Maiden

In spick & span readiness for her maiden voyage from Manhattan this week was the 5. S. Manhattan, biggest (705 ft., 24.000 tons), fastest (22.7 knots) liner ever built in the U. S.* Fortnight ago on its two trial cruises, the Manhattan met every test successfully, was unofficially scored "100% plus." Soot from the two squat, rakish funnels had smudged many a celebrity on the trial run but it was a simple matter for 100 workmen to raise the short stacks 15 feet.

Fortnight ago Alice Roosevelt Longworth cut her way through floral strands stretched across the gangplank, struck her head against something, had her hat knocked off. Smilingly jamming hat on head she marched forward, officially opened the ship to the public. Booked to capacity for her maiden voyage this week. the Manhattan was given in charge of U. S. Lines' hero-captain, George Fried.

When U. S. Lines took over its fleet from the Government in 1929, President Paul Wadsworth Chapman outlined a building program on money borrowed from the Shipping Board under the Jones-White Act. The Manhattan was the first transatlantic passenger vessel built under the new program, the first built in the U. S. since 1897. A day less than one year after the keel was laid the vessel was launched, christened Manhattan by Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Luxuriously outfitted, the Manhattan boasts many an unusual feature on its eight decks. Among them: a full-size tennis court, twelve sunlit dog kennels on deck, all fresh water baths and showers, conditioned air in all cabins and public rooms, no berths on the ship, beds only. Competing with European cabin-class liners, the minimum first-cabin rate for the voyage to England is $142.

In Camden, N. J. at New York Ship-building Corp.'s yards, an 5. S. Washington, twin sister of the Manhattan, will be launched next week.

* Biggest vessels ever built in the U. S. are the Navy's aircraft carriers Lexington and Saratoga, each weighing 33,000 tons.

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