The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1941-06-27
Americas First Welded
Steel Passenger Cargo Ship
Credited To Pascagoula Yard
L. 8 Army Troops To Participate In Colorfal Ceremonies
On Banks OF Paseagoula River A. History
l. Made In Shipbuilding.

} The 8 s. Aff&c4n Cnxme1 khe
wuFNk FIRST al1-weAdea steel 49,
se~kxeer-earRo Antp exw hufls VII -
launched al u0 oeaock tcsnnEro9
morning Al Tire fngAfAs E~niphnlhalEEa
Corporation plant IN PnNnaRoulA
Ire ship IA ne first of three sse@
combination passenger, carBn and
refrigerator ships N use sl1ae0Dun
expansion program for the AmeEf-
can South AfrtcAn Line.
Chrtstered 80 DAYS after her
ke<i was laid. tae new streMEnitned
- .0W ton-dispaaeeznens senzal thas
autumn WIN enter express service
linking thf u g. Eastern seab0eF6
with capetown ard about 10 other
puFtx Of South and East Africa
FIRST planned % be private. the
launching VIII be enc q the nznst
eoicrfui OF any held here under
the present snipbuildtng program
Butt IS one q TIE nnirN uf the
National Defense progrx1n. Q Eus
and appropriate setting viii be ar
ragged for the event with SOC Sol
dter6 members q the 7sth Fei6
Artillery. attending pa~rficipattng N
N ceremonies The 7ard Eeld A.
rtlisry Brigade Band, 0nx q the
most famous OF the United States
Army. win furnish music for fhe
occasion.
Miss Mary Maud FARRELL. daughter
o. John J. Parcel. chairman Of
the beard Of the American South
African Lines. and AIRS PARCEL
vii chrtsten the new ship. As the
proad and stately vessel aides
down the ways into the waters OF
the Pa~scagoula River, Q thousand
mula-colored balloons ffiled with
helium gas VIII BE released and
allowed 70 float. filing the sky
with q blaze q color. The cham
paigne 10 be tie n christening thn
vessel vii be South African cham-
payne.
The new ship her sieek black
smooth skinned hui gleaming. VII
be especially decorated for the &C.
eazznn- However. wilh Il 81 there
WiH be the skrictest precaus1nna
taknu against pu1xzn1e nnbufaR
Members * tf1e Enzaiis n67sse
force. u 8 IuzeHlRnslca Gerp1rM
r. d /. and 50 Military police frnzn
Camp Shelby, viii s. an drsv
throughout the ceremonies.
The soldiers wtn arrive At tns
Ingalls, yard IT 1910 oaclock and
will assemble Ia front Of the general
offices just outside tie inside gates.
Al IL O'Clock ut the arrival Of the
sponsor and her official party. tne
band viii strike I'D its music and
Lad the line Of march 70 the
launching ways. 4 detachment Of
the soldiers VIII stand guard Is the
official party passes through. After
that the gates VIII Be thrown open
70 the general public.
Admiral T. 8. Land. chairman Of
the =. 8 Martins Commission. ufn
Be the principal speaker 1t the
launching. Another prominent
speaker viii be James A Parcel
ST. director &C the American South
African Lanes and the retired prez-
dsnE Of the United states Steel Cor
pozatxon.
The African Genet h the first
Of three shiH o. the sane destxu.
t@NE 4A4 ~ - - EZNLlE82G 40
the South African Lines here N
PascagouA- The ether two. tns
African Meteor and African Planet.
vii BE launched in August and
September. respectively.
These boats I'll ~ zse feet oeer
al with q beam a @ fest ri
cfauEhf Of n feet Each VIII have
accommodations for f1e cabin
elaz4 passengers. with each state-
room equlpped with private hafh.
Al cahens are On ne outxide. There
I'll BE Ia members n each ures
The African Comet yin have 47s.-
so cube feet q dry cargo holds.
Rs1ugerator holds q 6T27u cutie
feef Vii provide FitaIly needed com
partmsnts Tor ths l~znportation Of
many south African fruits.
! strong hnk II the national
oefezlse program. the 8 O. African
Comet MAS ordered built b. TIE Z.
: Maritime Commission fer TIE
American South African Lanes AZ 4
cnst a B0e0o. The boat IN
have i've decks she IL equiu1ed
fFwws&~asZM -