The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-25
WINTER TRAVEL
| TO TROPIC ISLES
TAKING FLEETS
Bookings to Many Seas Are
Heavy as Before the
World War.
SPANISH MAIN LURES
Tourists Fix Course to
Avoid Revolutions Over
Europe.
BOATS READY FOR RUSH
New and Old Lines Have
Scores Of Vessels to Sail
From Here.
BOATS READY FOR RUSH

With the coming of frost the sanguine
soul Of the tourist. whether he is mere
professional lounger or a tired business
man. turns to the contemplation of
tropic Isles and the absorption of re-
freshment forbidden in the domain Of
Uncle Sam, but not on his passenger
ships outside the three mile limit. Be-
!. fore the catrastrophe of war upset the
universe and sent huge argosies down
among the mermaids the tourist could
count on having joyous two months
or more afioat and ashore under radiant
skies In Italy, southern France, Egypt
and other pleasant parts of the Near
East. Excursions are not headed In
that direction now because of unsettled
political and industrial conditions along
all shores Of the Mediterranean, and the
American exodus of this fall and the
winter will be to the island glories of
the Caribbean and to pleasant places in
South and Central America
steamship men share with. other Oh
servers the opinion, really conviction.
that a large part of the multitude that
"a expected to visit the Cuban capital,
the greatest magnet in the Antilles, is
influenced In its fight largely by the en-
forcement Of the Eighteenth Amendment.
But much the larger half of the travel
ers bound for balmy seas, especially
those In the great excursions made up of
folk from the Middle West. are going
Caribbean-way because 1t is easier than
taking the old pre-war route overseas
and there are no chances of getting
mixed up in sudden revolutions and be-
ing held up by Bolshevik bandits.
Pre-War Travel Seen.
Steamship men hereabout are optimis-
tic not only about the passenger business
to the Spanish Main but are inclined to
think that fleets bound for Europe. par
ticularly British and French ports, will
carry as many passengers, considering
the large number of fine carriers OUT Of
commission. as in a similar season De-
fore the war.
The contrast between a late October
showing Of liners in the Atlantic lanes
in 1913 and now can hardly be called
heartening to the man in the street who
does not know much about Atlantic
travel. In considering this contras. it
Is well to recall that the feet OF seven
years ago was made up largely of Ger
man liners, only few of which are In
service now, and many were going TO
and coming from the Mediterranean.
But for the coal strikes abroad and at
homo. the Bolsheviki, Sim Fein and the
II. G. Of L., II was said at offices of
Atlantic liners, there would be little
material difference In the traffic of this
fall than the fall before the war. The
big lines are. getting ready for a rushing
business in the spring. and they believe
they will be able to handle IL with the
fleets they win have In commission then.
The Cunard Company. which is build
Ing a skyscraper down in Bowling Green
In anticipation of n mighty business. de-
clined to predict on the prospect. TWAS
said that thousands wanted even at this
season to 60 abroad, but that passport
troubles and unsettled conditions on the
other side deferred them. One man In
the West came here recently. and after
wrestling with the passport problem said
he would postpone his trip until this
damphool u. s. regulation is over" This
Is typical of many cases OF travellers
who have cancelled reservations.
European bookings Fair.
The bookings for Europe at present
are said to be fair for the season. and
all ships bound for New York are filled
in cabin and steerage, the latter. invari-
ably called third cabin" by the Holland
America and the Scandinavian lines.
The third class passengers coming this
way outnumber those brought in any
previous fall. even in the years of the
tallest immigration. A great majority
OF these immigrants arc Jewish. and they
come chiefly from Poland. The steer
nge efflux from Italy is also enormous
for the season, and, like the Jewish, Is
expected to continue through the WIN
ter The immigrant movement from
Holland is also heavy and the quality
very high made up largely OF farmers
and artisans. nearly all well to do and
travelling In second cabin, with their
household furniture. A large number Of
Polish Jews also are coming by the Hol-
land-America ships
Managers Of the big companies say II
should he remembered that the extraordi-
nary fall and winter immigration Is due
in Part to an accumulation of homeseek-
crs who were debarred during four years
of war from satisfying their desire to
Get to the new world. II Is believed the
rush will continue all through next year.
and that Il will include, after the United
States and Germany are technically at
peace, enormous numbers of Teutonic
people. weary of the muddled condition
of things and the ill-fare In their coun-
tries.
The International Mercantile Marine
also is hopeful OF big business in the
spring In European passenger traffic.
IT'S Mediterranean service will continue
through the fall and winter. and al
though the cabin bookings are not large
at present the numbers are encouraging
ana on the return trips the third class
accommodations will be all taken. None
of the big lines will have an around the
world cruise, which. because OF the dear
ness OF coal would make the undertake
ing unprofltable. The HamburgD anzig
route Is appealing to more lines and the
French steamships are entering the lists
with the American and Cunard fleets.
French Tonnage Unchanged.
pespite the sinIings in war time. the
runard and the French lines report that
their tonnage IL approaching pre-war
nronortIons. In the case of France re-
can't reports by the French Government
indicate that French tonnage is now
practically the same az before the war.
counting, of course, the German vessels
acouired. Chief among the new Amer
team flag lines that have entered seri-
ouslv into the Atlantic trade Is the
RATED states Mail Steamship Company.
which has taken over some of the best
~ the German ships and now has n
total gross tonnage OF about 100000.
These ships will enter into competition
with those of the old established COM
nanies with the distinct hope OF taking
owav some Of the trade. The newest of
the United States Mail fleet, the old