New-York tribune., 1920-04-13
Marine W eek Is
Opened Amid
Sirens Shriexs
Admiral Benson Attends
Ceremony onRiverF Front;
: Ships of All Descrip-
tions in Gala Attire
Many Inventions Shown
Largest Bas-Relief Map Dis
plays Every Steamship
Route i'm the World

The young American Merchant Ma
rine, born out of the necessity of war
upon the seven seas, fas rechristened
that marked the opening of the first
National Marine Exposition in the
Grand Central Palace.
The first ceremony was held on Pier
86 at the foot of West Forty-sixth
Street, where, after luncheon, Joshua
Willis Alexander, Secretary of Com
merce, went aboard the new Oriental
Navigation steamer West Alsek, and
pulled the whistle cord The resulting
shrek was the signal for the bedam
that broke loose over the harbor as
ship after ship answered in turn.
Every ship in the harbor was dressed
from truck to traffrail in honor of the
occasion Two hours later the West
Alsek left on her maiden voyage.
Among those who attended the
luncheon and ceremony were Admiral
w. S. Benson, head of the United States
Shipping Board; Judge John H. Roemer
and August Belmont, who presided. At
me conclusion Of the ceremony the
party went to the Grand Central Pal
ace. There Admiral Benson was re-
celved with full honors, due his rank
as though he were boarding a battle
ship. The guard or honor was com
posed of United States Shipping Board
sailors from the training ship Newport
Many Novel Inventions Shown
TIE marine show was then formally
ope ID by Secretary Alexander in
brief speech. The party then made
a tour of inspection. The show itself
is remarkable tribute to the vigor
That is back of the rejuvenated Amer
lcan merchant marine, and is one of
the largest commercial exhibitions ever
held in this city.
1T includes many novel inventions
SHOWN IN public for the first time. One
OF its features is the largest bas relief
map in the world, showing every steam
ship and trade route on the globe. This
remarkable map is 80 feet long and is
feet high.
Another interesting exhibit is con-
tanned in the United States Navy dis
play. This. is a bas relief map Of New
York Harbor, including the whole Of
Long Island, with all the navigation
lights in full operation. Upon this
map are a number of ships moving to
the United States naval wireless direc-
ton finder stations. There is a COM
plete wireless direction finder ap-
paratus in connection with this ex-
hibit, and the ships respond to the di-
rectional waves sent out.
Model of Docking System
There, too, is shown for the first
time the paravane-that remarkable
war invention that saved thousands of
merchant ships from the dangers of
submerged mines laid by the Germans.
The navy exhibit also includes the new
triple torpedo tubes and the wonderful
oil paintings of the historical NC sea-
plane fights across the Atlantic, paint
ed by Lieutenant c. e. Ruttan.
The Morse Dry Dock Company has
complete model Of it's docking system,
which shows a model of the new T. S.
5. Minnesota being drydocHed. Simon
Lake, the submarine inventor, is also
in attendance each dav demonstrating
his latest invention to save sub
merged wrecks.
There are more than 100 exhibits on
three floors. The show will remain
open until Saturday night.