New-York tribune., 1921-02-27
C,unard BUYS
The lnlperator
For Ocean w ar
Rattle With America for
Supremacy i'm Sea Passen~
ger Trade To BE Waged
With Ex German Liners
u, S. Has the Bismarck
British and international
Lines Evenly Matched; Le-
yiatllan May Decide Fight

CONTEST 1vt Lne Hiue ilpDOn OF the
atlantic supremacy In the ocean pas
senger carrying trade looms behind
.he announcement made by the Cunard
line yesterday that it had purchased
the 52,200-ton Imperator. Giant ex-
German liners. the largest ships in the
world, are the weapons with which this
eentest is expected to be waged be-
tween American and, British interests.
The Cunard Line has been operating
the Imperator under ALLEGATION from
the British government, the vessel hav-
ing been turned over by Germany as
psrt of the tonnage surrendered in
reparation for destruction of Allied
vessels.
This purchase, which was announced
by cable TO the Cunard officials here.
follows closely upon the announcement
Of the purchase by the international
Mercantile Marine Company of the Bis
marck, which is still larger than the
lmperator, and which also will be
placed on the New York run. She will
become part of the White Star fleet.
1t is not probable, however, that the
Bismarck can be placed in commission
before next year. Although she was
launched only week or two before
the war for the account of the Ham
6urg-American Line, she still lies un--
finished at a dock in Hamburg. Her
machinery has been installed and most
Of her superstructure completed, but
the work Of fitting her for the passen-
ger service has not been begun.
Huge Liners as Rivals
Until recently the belief prevailed in
ninr 1rn1 1nc
pany would not attempt to purchase
the Imperator, but would turn her back
t. the British government With the
purchase of the Bismarck by the In
ternational Mercantile Marine Com
pany, however, shipping men looked
Tor the Cunard Line to acquire the I'm
perstor as an offset to the competition
Of its chief rival in the Transatlantic
trade.
The Imperator is of 1900 tons gross,
while the Bismarck is $4,000 tons. Both
vessels are built along entirely different
lines. The Bismarck and the Leviathan,
on the other hand, are practically sister
ships.
In length, the Imperator is 919 feet.
her breadth is % feet and her depth 63
Ieet Both she and the Bismarck will
fly the British flag.
the Cunard Line and the Bismarck to
be operated by the International Mer-
camille Marine Company, q contest for
supremacy in the transatlantic passen-
ger trade is looked for between the two
companies, with the giant ex-German
hners as the principal weapons.
Battle for Blue Ribhoa
When, through the merger effected
"a NJ
century, the nucleus of the Interna
nonal Mercantile Marine Company was
INmed ana large amount Of high
gisse British tonnage was brought un-
af American control, Great Britain
ated crisis in shipping. Germany,
y building faster and larger vessels
had gained the blue ribbon of the At
lantle. To counteract this situation
the Cunard Line, with the assistance
OF the British government, built the
Lusitania and Mauretania, bigger and
iaster vessels than the Germans had
and brought the blue ribbon back to
England.
Germany at once, however, began
preparations to regain her lost su-
premacy. Through the construction of
the lmperator, Vaterland and Bismarck,
the Hamburg American Line planned
10 put Germany back in her former
position. The 1mperator was completed
IN 1912, but the Vaterland got into sery-
ice only shortly before the war. AS
the Leyiathan, she now lies in the
North River, part Of the Shipping
boards feet, after having served in
carrying thousands of American sol
ders overseas and back. The Imperator
also has seen service as a transport.
With the ships lost to Germany as
4 result of the war she is ii minated
Tor the present from any contest for
TRANSATLANTIC carrying trade. Her for
mer liners, however, will be the chief
century for the blue ribbon of the
Atlantic.
Sea Rivals Well Matched
At present the Cunard and .Interna-
tOnal Mercantile Marine lines are
about evenly matched in transatlantic
tonnage, with the Aquitania and the
Aauretania and the Olympic and Adri-
stlc as their leading ships respective
Y outside of the newly acquired eX~
0erman liners.
The Leviathan, however, may be the
deciding factor in the present situa-
uon,. Since her retirement from the
transport service she has been under
VI oepcINlSlOH OIL IHS iuISlHatioLd1
.Aercantile Marine Company by direc-
pon oq the Shipping Board. and plans
nave been prepared for her recondition-
ing on scale that would make her the
Tlet Taest equipped liner in the world.
lnis will probably require the eXpendi-
tore of about $10,000,000. she has
Oeen o offered for sale by the Shipping
t!rd posrd on previous occasions, and the
highest bid made was one of $780,
wv by the |. M. M. interests. No sale
vas IS effected, however.
!, With the acquisition of the Levia-
nan the International Mercantile Ma
.te .sne Company would have two of the
ta 4ree largest ships in the world, one of
mem Grder the American flag. 1t has
u.t useh stated that the Shipping Board
siH shortly make decision as to the
Islsposal OF the vessel. If she goes to
S ne International Mercantile Marine
SSOmpany she may bring the blue rib
.s IN OF the Atlantic passenger trade to
his country for the first time since the
Aays OF the old clipper ship.
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