New-York tribune., 1922-02-25
Innovations ON
HOmeric Amaze
Steamship Men
White Star Liner. Built in
Danzig and Rcfticd at
81, 100000 Cost. Docks
Here on Her First Trip
Encountered Storm at Sea
Sixth Largest Vessel Is
Equipped to Carry 2,655:
All German Races Are OFF

The White Star Line brought to port
yesterday from Southampton an ex-
ceedineiy luxurious prize of war called
the Homcrc She was launched IN
Danzig about the time the Germans
were maneuverinc before Liege and
was called the Columbus. With her.
<he North German Lloyd Line. which
vas not keen for @ar, hoped to show
the world something new in trans
Atlantic liners, and the accuracy OF
their guess was demonstrated yester-
day when the shipping wizards of this
port saw the --latest addition to the
White Star Lines feet.
There is nothing afoat quite like
this creation from the German ship
yards at Danzg. steamship men who
are prone to say that all ships look
alike to ne" climbed over the big
Homcric yesterday from stem to stern,
from keel to bridge dumtounded with
uriousnesS of her appointments.
British shipbuiders who crossed on
the vessel for observation expressed
the opinion that the yards of Britain
had produced nothing finer.
The Homeric is the sixth biggest
vessel in the world She is smaller
than the Olympic and about ! 900 tons
greater IN gross register than the
Mauretsnia, but she gives the impress
sion within doors Of being bigger than
either of these. Her length over all is
III feet and She boasts generous
beam OF 50 feet. From bridge 20 keel
the newcomer measures 100 feet and
this, in way. explains why her build
ers we're able to offer the traveller such
height in her dining saloon, her public
lounges and staterooms. Officially the
Homeric registers 3,526 gross tonnage
and has a displacement of - 600 tons.
Suggests Room and Comfort
Everywhere she suggests room and
comfort, and even with full passen-
ger complement of 2,653 persons
aboard and her crew of $50 it seems
Incredible that there should ever be
any suggestion of crowding or conges-
tion.
When Great Britain took her over
from the Germans in a partially com
plcted condition the White Star Line
spent nearly S1,000,000 putting her in
shape for service. and much of this
lavish outlay was expended in the
costly decoration OF her cabins and
public rooms.
The main entrance of the Homeric
opens from the promenade deck into a
foyer and grand stairway paneled
throughout with solid hand-rubbed
mahogany. this form of decoration ex-
tending aft along the suites de luxe
On the deck below is the dining room,
whose ceiling OF glass. the highest OK
any ship ahoat. extends across the
boat deck. In this lofty section are the
lounges. the smoking room. library,
writing room and ballroom, the latter
being the most ornate Of any public
room that has yet been fashioned. In
this room, studded with tall Ionic col
umns in ivory and gold the entire
saloon passenger complement could
ioor is made of teak and maple inlay.
Wherever the builders could find con-
venlent space for costly and attractive
marble they put it on. This was CON
spicuous in the private baths. where
nothing but marble was used IN the
making Of the floors, walls and ceilings
Paintings Throughout Ship
Throughout the vessel are various
paintings. nearly all Of them substi-
tutes for the Teutonic art originally
made for the edifcation Of Willie m
Hohenzollern and his court. Pictures
symbolical Of the adventures of Co
lunbus after whom the vessel was
originally named. were left in place hl
the British owners, but everything thu
smacked of the cx-kaiser or the Rhn,
was bans ed before the Homeric was
aalf ready to leave Danzig 1t is saic
that not small part Of the S800,0oC
spent by the White Star Line in it!
scheme Of decoration was used in de
Germ anizing the newest acquisition t.
the feet
The Homeric WAS heset with ba,
weather throughout her run across. an,
Captain f. b. Howarth. her master
made no effort to push her on he
maiden trip. Her running time from
Cherbourg to the Ambrose Channe
Lightship was 7 days 23 hours and 2