Evening star., 1923-06-20
FIND FEW FAULTS
.ON LEV|ATHAN TRIAL
Huge Ship Slips Along Quietly
and Rapidly, While Cuisine
Wins High Praise.
By Wireless TO the Associated Press.

BY Wireless to the Associated Press.
ABOARD THE STEAMSHIP LE-
EIATHAN, June 2o.-Uncle Sam 8 big
yachting party aboard the recondi-
toned Leviathan was bowling along
at nineteen-k knot an hour clip at the
first reading Of the log early today.
as the nations biggest liner steamed
her way on her trial trip to West
Indian waters.
The guests. said not TO exceed 45o,
although the list had not yet been
complied, loomed up as a slender
group In the vast recesses of the
vessel. which will accommodate near
ly ten times her present passenger
list. s- -
Albert D. I.asker, retiring chairman
of the Shipping Board. and others off,
cially connected with the cruise did
not appear before their guests until
the vessel was under wav. Gossip
among the passengers had ii they
were in retirement because of fast
flying rumors that an eleventh -hour
attempt would be made to enjotn the
trip. On emerging from the seclusion
of their cabins the officials assured
their guests that they had not been
disturbed by the last-hour injunction
talk.
Passengers Fail to Note Start.
On a sea as smooth and unruffied
as a small inland lake. the big ship
Is almost without vibration as she
smashes through the water So
smoothly did the giant slide along
that many of the passengers were
unaware that she was under way
until half an hour or more after
leaving Boston harbor.
The commissioners in charge of the
trip held a long session with mem
bers of the trial board last night and
agreed upon all details of the test
program 1t is largely technical,
dealing with the intricacies of cui-
sine, machinery. speed and the ves-
sells general behavior under various
conditions.
All the details are not to be in
the hands Of the officials, however.
The guests are to have something
pointments of the palatial liner In
all guest rooms have been placed
printed cards requesting that COM
plants of any and all kinds con-
cerning the ships service and ap-
pointments be filed with the officials
ins writing.
with these aids. combined with the
observations of the technical experts
aboard. 1t is designed to make the
Leviathan the most modernly appoint
ed passenger vessel in the United
States service.
Provide for Entertainment.
So far the complaints have been few.
These have been filed by members of
the trial board themselves and had
nothing to do with the Leviathan.
They were directed to the wrong ten
der for transportation to the ship in
Boston harbor and were considerably
delayed in getting aboard.
Motion pictures were screened for the
entertainment of the guests last night.
ranged for their amusement during
the five-day cruise which will end in
New York Sunday, when the Leviathan
will dock to be given the finishing
touches preparatory to her first trans
atlantic lr:p under the American flag
as a passenger liner.
Runs Through Fog.
The Leviathan made her first nights
run through a heavy fog. her whis-
ties at times rendering sleep impos-
S1DIe IOT meInpeTS OF the party.
Daylight found the liner off the
Jersey coast between Atlantic City
and Cape May. and it was announced
that the cruise would be continued
to Abaco Island. Bahamas. about
1923 miles from Boston. Turning
north Thursday night, the Leviathan
is expected to cover the 1852 miles
to New York by Saturday afternoon.
The sea continued smooth today and
operation Of the giant steamer ap-
parently satisfied the experts on
board.
The engines, starting at. $50 revolu.
tions a minute, were gradually in
creased to top, speed and the Levia-
than shot smoothly ahead. No piece
of. machinery and no service will re-
main untested when the cruise is COM
pleted.
So far only minor faults have been
uncovered. These involved primarily
the ventilating and plumbing systems
which 1t was said could be corrected
before any paying passengers were
taken aboard.
The fine appointments Of the sleep
ing quarters, the dining salon, the
smoking rooms and the general at
mosphere Of luxury on the recondi-
toned ship astonished even guests
who are accustomed to travel on the
worlds, finest vessels.