The New York herald., 1922-02-19

~HE announcement made few days
ago that at last it had. been def
nitely decided TO refit and restore
the great steamship Leviathan, formerly
the Vaterland has drawn the attention or
almost every port in the world to the some
what romantic fate of what was once
and now again will be-the worlds most
splendid palace of the seas.
To speak of refitting steamship means
to most people mere task for lot Of
ship carpenters hired for a chance job. To
refit and reclaim the great Leviathan
means to probably nine-tenths of the peo-
pie of the United States a ship .chandler's
task to be accomplished casually-perhaps
with few buckets of soapsuds and paint
and well welded brushes
But of course. even those who think Of
reconditioning the former pride Of the
German merchant marine as being such q
simple task as this know that the Water
senger shIps-that she cost the equivalent
of ten million gold dollars to build-just
before the great war began-and that.
when she fell into the hands of the United
States she was used to carry our soldiers
to France. Incidentally. the Leviathan
transported altogether about $4,000 to
Europe during the war; and on each trip
she carried from 5000 to 10,000-enough
of them at time to almost fight great
battle without reenforcements
It is only those who live close to sea-
ports, or who have made point of know
ing something Of the immense undertake
ing the Leviathan represents who can
visualize the enormity of activity epito-
mized in that simple announcement that
the former vaterland, now flying the flag
Of this country, is to be made ready again
to sail wherever in all the Seven Seas the
ocean is deep enough for her tremendous
hull
One Hundred Craftsmen
Needed to Plan Part
Elsewhere on this page is a photograph
of one part of a great room in which
hundred architectural craftsmen are at
work over plans and blueprints, with draw
ing boards, calculation tables, compasses
and squares at hand. One might well and
reasonably suppose these hundred experts
were engaged in laying out the plans for
a whole city, perhaps; or, at least, for some
great architectural project involving hun
dreds of acres of ground-or a super-sky-
scraper.
But, instead, they are just one little
group, distinct from many others, drawing
up plans which-after awhile-will guide
thousands of workmen engaged in repair
ing the damage inflicted by war and neg
lect upon the mightiest of steamships. Nor
is it only for week or month that these
hundred trained craftsmen have been
at work-it is for many months, almost
solid year. Consider this: Ten of them
could, In q single month, perfect the plans
IOr the entire COHSITuCIlou, lTOH BTOuHu-
work to roof garden, of New York's great
est hotel.
Designers and contractors and experts in
other lines have been at work for long
while engaged in other preparatory tasks.
Soon, now, the workmen, mechanics. steam
filters, carpenters, decorators and members
of countless other crafts and trades will be
actually at work; and dsevery working day
for year they will be busy before the
giant liner may again sail.
And when the day comes when she does
put out again, this time under the Stars
and Stripes, the most magnificent vessel
that ever sailed under any emblem will
have been reborn on the high seas. The
Majestic, to be launched in April under the
banner of Britain. will be a scant two tons
greater; but neither the Majestic nor any
dream ship will be more luxurious and
perfectly appointed palace than the Ameri.
can Leviathan.
Also on this page are two photographs
which tell in startling way the history
Of the greatest of the liners. One shows
the vaterland--proud. naughty and efi-