Evening star., 1939-08-31
Largest Trade Ship
Ever Built in j. 5.
Is Launched
Mrs. Roosevelt Christens
America in Ceremony
At Newport News
BY JOHN C.. HENRY.

At Newport News
BY JOHN C. HENRY.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, August
3l.-The America, new first lady
Of the United States merchant ma
rine, took to the water here today.
In stately fashion, as BELTS a
queen, the giant liner responded
smartly to the impetus of a bot
tie OF champagne shattered on her
towering steel bow by Mrs. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. II christen thee
America" Mrs. Roosevelt addressed
the ship, at the same moment swing
ing the wire and wicker covered
bottle sharply against the hull.
On duty since 5 am, some SOC
workmen had removed all but the
last essential wedges and stays be-
fore Mrs. Roosevelt spoke. Two
whistle blasts cleared the men from
beneath the hull and axe gangs
severed the manila straps holding
the snoring firm A third shrill blast
was followed Immediately by Mrs.
Roosevelt's words and the release Of
the vessel down the heavily creased
ways.
A sparkling sun and light breeze
blessed the ceremony with thou
sands of onlookers cheering as the
precisely planned program reached
its climax at 11.5O. lust before flood
tide.
Exultingly the hundreds of work
men who had been scurrying around
under the red steel hull clear up to
the final minute shouted their salts
faction with the perfectly executed
maneuver. waving their hats and
changing their tools.
Message From President.
In less than her length after hit
ting the water with a swish and
splash, the ship was brought to q
halt by drag chains, riding high and
easily. Almost instantly a fleet of
tugs hustled up, nosing the new
queen around to a dock side where
another six months will be spent
in fitting her out for regular trans
Atlantic service as flagship for the
United States Lines, largest and
costliest merchant vessel ever built
in this country.
To the ceremony Mrs. Roosevelt
brought message from the Presi-
dent addressed to Rear Admiral
Emory S. Land, U. 8. NJ, retired, and
present chairman OF the Maritime
Commission.
Commencing the commissions s
present building program, in which
the America Is a major unit, the
President wrote:
The tense state of the inter-
national situation makes it particu-
larly desirable that we have a mer-
chant fleet capable of carrying our
commerce If and when foreign ships
are withdrawn and should the un-
fortunate necessity arise, of serving
as the necessary supply force for.
naval vessels. You and I know the
disabilities of a navy which lacks
an adequate merchant fleet.
When the America goes into
service on the North Atlantic next
spring she should be filled to capac-
ity on every voyage"
Land Halls Early Successes.
Appearing earlier on the launch
ing program, Admiral Land re-
minded the throng, and the listeners
of radio programs being broadcast
on all major networks, that the early
successes of efforts to rejuvenate
the American merchant marine have
been nothing short of phenomenal"
as measured thus far by returns of
the good neighbor fleet" sailing to
South America.
With the commissioning of the
America and other contemplated
additions to the Nations facilities,
he added. substantial share Of
the worlds maritime traffic will
bring benefit to the entire country
and relief from present subsidy OBJ
legations.
Others to participate in the cere-
mony were John NJ. Franklin, presi-
dent Of the United States Lines, and
Homer Ferguson, president of the
Newport News Shipbuilding a. Dry
Dock Co.
Mrs Franklin, Mrs. Land and
Mrs. Basil Harris, wife of the vice
president Of the United States Lines,
served as matrons of honor to Mrs.
Roosevelt.
The throng in attendance, esti-
mated reliably at 10000, filled the
great shipyard, many Of them perch
ing themselves precariously on the
cranes, booms and other rigging of
adjacent ways. On the America it
self as it slid gracefully into the
James River were about 100 work.
men, to take part in handling the
hull during the procedure Of bring
ing her to the dock sides.
Enters service in 1910.
Largest and costliest merchant
ship ever built IN this country, the
new America is scheduled to enter
regular transatlantic service in the