The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-11
TWO CUNARD LINERS
TO Be SCOUT SHIPS
Mauretania and Lusitania Will
War on German Trade as
British Cruisers.
SWIFTEST BOATS ON SEA
VIII Carry Twelve 6 Inch Guns,
but Will Depend Chiefly
on Their Speed.
SWIFTEST BOATS ON SEA

The two swiftest merchantmen on the
seas. the Cunarders Mauretania and Lusi-
tania, may he In commission as commerce
destroyers and scout ships within a week.
Although they may not find single
German liner on the Atlantic. they may
overhaul and capture dozen or more
frelEhters and oil carriers, unequlppei
with wireless whose shippers will marvel
! Wnen they are in tow. at the strange sea
/ changes OF a few weeks
The Mauretania Is fitting out at Hall
fax, and the Lusltania. according to mes
/ sages received yesterday on this side OF
the sea. is nearing Fishguard. where she
/ Will land passengers for London and then
/ proceed to Liverpool She will be trans,
/ formed into an auxiliary even swifter
! than will the Mauritania at Halifax,
/ and will start seward Immediately to
/ smash or capture all merchantmen OF
/ opposing powers
Callers at the Cunard office yesterday
expressed sympathy for the line in the
loss Of its patronage this month and the
prospective loss In the fall through the
shutting of OF transatlantic trafflc to
[ the westward. The officials smiled at the
prospect, remarking that the Cunard
racers stood to win much more than they
might have taken in as mere liners.
The Mauretania and Lustanip were
built with $4,000 900 lent TO tho line by
the British Government The line paid
nominal interest on the loan and has
received since from the Government $780,
/ 600 a year as a mail subsidy. felicitously
called a "subventlon."
IL was said at the time OF tho build
! ing OF the racers that there was little
/ probability OF there ever being n chance
| OF their entrance into war service; but
/ the Government appeared 10 suspect
| otherwise and that Is why the Cunard
! line rejoices.
The German Government had hoped TO At
out the huge Vaterland, now at dock at
Hoboken, as an auxiliary cruiser In time
OF war; but the war came too soon for
her, and II is improbable that she ever
will get away from this port before the
| war is over.
The Mauretanla and Jusltania were
| constructed especially az auXiliaries under
| the supervision OF the British Admiralty.
Their machinery is all under the water
| line and their coal bunkers are arranged
so as 20 protect the engines Shells might
pierce half dozen places and the hulls
of the mammoth greyhounds would not
| he so badly wounded as TO cause them
10 founder
They will not depend when encounter
| ug war vessels on the guns that they are
equipped with. twelve six inch quick
firers, but on their ability to outfoot the
Y
wake ever foaming astern of mer-
lchantman. covering under stress more than
| - knots
The steering gear and rudders OF the
twin Cunarders are protected sufficiently
to prevent the probability of any ordinary
wlrship doing them harm except at close
range The regular commanders of both
slippery ships will be superseded by naval
men. but will act as navigating officers,
and what a Cunard captain does not know
Of the Atlantic is hardly worth men
/ tionng
The Cunard steamships in service are
/ sailing TO destination as serenely AS II
there were no hostile cruisers on the
! Atlantic. The Ivernia, which sailed from
! Gibraltar on Saturday morning, is plug
gine along for Sandy Hook and may
| he here on Tuesday. The Laconia, which
sailed from Liverpool on Saturday, Is
/ scheduled To get here about Monday.
, The White Star liner Cedric. from Hal
/ flax, was reported yesterday afternoon
/ picking her way through fog and is ex-
/ nected here this morning.