Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-07
MAURITANIA SET
new OCEAN MARK
Liner Fleeing German Cruisers
Crosses Atlantic in Four
Days and Ten Hours.

Halifax. ~. s. Aug when the
big transatlantic liner Mauretania,
flying the British hag, bound from Liv-
erpool for New York. put into Halifax
yesterday as a haven from German
cruisers. she broke all records across
the Atlantic, making the trip in four
days and ten hours. Its daily runs
were:
To noon Saturday. 5s5 miles
Monday, 61O miles.
Tuesday, 592 miles.
Wednesday. $50, and then the SIS
miles 10 Halifax. total OF 2,Ss2 miles.
This distance was heightened by
the steamer having first taken the
New York route and having TO change
her course due north when warned by
the British cruiser Essex
The actual time to Halifax could
have been reduced six hours had a
direct route been taken. Six hours
more were lost in fog and in lodging
steamers and cruisers, thereby bring
ing down to three days and 20 hours
the time in which the fleet Cunarder
could have covered the distance from
Liverpool TO Halifax Had she con-
tinued to New York under forced
speed she would not have reached
there until after midnight Thursday.
Under pressure the Mauretania
made the marvellous run of 271z knots
during the early hours of the morn
ing. Her average speed was 26.06
knots.
At 1880 o'clock Wednesday night,
while OF Sable Island, the Mauretania
was warned by the Essex to change
her course without delay and head for
Halifax The helm was shifted so
quickly that many passengers. iolted
by the shock as the ship heeled sharp
", believed the steamer was turning
turtle.
Under the highest pressure of her
turbine engines, with all ports blank
eted and not a light Showing, she
sped over the 40 miles that lay be-
tween her and safety from German
cruisers. Behind her came the Essex,
whose searchlights could be seen
flashing at night across the horizon as
she scanned the waters for the enemy
The Mauretania's 2,400 pas
sengers were not officially informed
of what had occurred. They had re-
ceived no intimation OF the declara-
ton of war
The Mauritania sailed from Liver
pool at 4:55 p. m. Saturday amid the
utmost excitement From the mo-
ment the big liner left British shores
the officers were on the alert, and
Halifax was held in mind as an alter
native port in case of emergency.
In the midst OF a thick fog OF Sable
Island a wireless message from the
Essex gave urgent warning to make
full speed for Halifax. At that time
the Cunarder was $50 miles from
New York and 40 from this port
Lurking somewhere in fhe darkness J
and fog was a German cruiser, but |
guarding the lanes Of steamship |
travel were British warships warning /
liners by wireless.
When the purpose of the change of |
course was learned there was excite
ment among the passengers. In the /
first cabin were 500 travellers, many of 1
them prominent in the business, pra- 4
fessional and church life OF this CON
tinent.
The sensational report went the |
rounds of the ship that late last night /
a flash OF light was seen over the
stern OF the cruiser. followed by the !
report OF a gun. II was believed by
many that some warship had fired on
the liner. None OF the officers could
substantiate this report as they were
IN the bridge. but several of them be-
l:eved il TO be true.
Neither the officers of the ship nor
the officers OF the company would say
what would be done with the Maure-
tania-
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