The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1941-09-26
PASCAGOULA CONTRIBUTES
SHIP AFRICAN PLANET
TO NATIONWIDE PROGRAM
Elaborate Public Ceremonies To Marx Launching Al ingalls,
Shipbuilding Yards Tomorrow
Afternoon.

NARA= ~
IL pascagouia Is planned Tor to-
m0rrow when the African Planet all
welded steel combination passenger
CARGO liner viii be launched a. the
ingalls, ShlpbuiiGtnR Corporation
Yards me event win BE- part q the
rAtion-wide Liberty Fleet Ds
celebration Of the United States
Maritime Commission In which IL
vessels Of various types and sizes
Hm be launched AZ shipyards oycr
the country.
The African Planet Is the third
@n-WeI1ed vessel launched as Pas
cagoula this summer for the Anerf-
can-South African Line. The ship
VII cost s4g099 900 when completed
and ready 70 deliver 70 the u. s.
Maritime Commission.
The African Planet is the only ship
to be launched on the Gulf Coast
during the celebration and demon-
straEion OF United States shipbuild-
ing power. There are IA ships 20
be launched on that day but the
Planet Is the only combination pas
Senger-cargo ship IN the entire lot
Events connected with the launch
ing include q huge parade IN which
school children. the American Le-
gion. z. 8. Army soldiers, and cin-
zenS will participate. The Pasca-
gouia school band vii furnish the
music for the parade rs vel as at
the launching ceremonies.
One Of the features Of the launch
ing ceremonies Will be q personal
message from President Franklin
Roosevelt transcribed and broadcast
by radio. President Rooseveit's mes
sage viii be sent direct TO the Gulf
Coast and 10 the workers and man
agement OF the Ingalls, sllipyard.
Governor Paul B. johnson Of Mis-
siSsippi VII make the principal ad-
dress on the program. Just prior
70 the launching Of the African
Planet.
Another distinguished official at
tending the ceremonies and schedule
ed u make one Of the principal
speeches is Hon. Thomas NJ. WOOD
ward. v1ce-cha1rzaan Of the United
States Maritime Commission AEr.
Woodward Is one Of the Oldest
members Of the Maritime C0mmls-
sion and vas q member Of the
former American Merchant Marine
Bureau.
This is 70 be hts first visit to
the ingalls, Shipyard at Pascagoula.
he VIII be introduced by r. I. In
gals, ST., chairman of the board Of.
the ingalls, Shipbuilding Corpora
ton.
John Farrell. chairman Of the
Board Of the Amerlcan-South Afri-
can Line, who will become the
owners Of the African Planet win
speak ON the same program.
Miss Catherine Farrell Stapleton,
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. Luke D.
Stapleton Of Norwalk. Conn, viii
chrIsten the African Planet. The
sponsor Is the youngest person sell
ected to christen one OF the ships
built here at the Ingalls, yards.
She Is Il years old, attends the
Thomas School at Rowayton. Conn.
and is the granddaughter Of James
A. Farrell. ST. q director and the
retired president Of the q. 8 Steel
Corporation. Miss Stapleton,g mother
was the former Catherine PARCEL.
whose brothers. John j. Farrell ana
james A. Farrell, Jr- are chairman
Of the board and president. re-
spectvelF. OF the American-Soutfl
African Line. Mr.. Stapleton Is q
director. general counsel and secre-
tary Of the line.
The ceremonies viii start at |
O'Clock IN the afternoon and vii
continue for IS minutes. The gates
to the Yards win be opened at ~. I
IN the afternoon and at u SIS O'Clock.
ne Pascagouia Schools band viii
play q salute TO the president.
The s s. African Planet. ike her
sister ships. the s. s. African
Comet. launched June 2a. and the
8 s. African Meteor. launched Au-
gust %. is 48o feet long with : beam
Of 90 feet and depth Of a feet. she
Is equipped to carry us passengers
n luxurious accommodations between
New York and South and East
Africa. making Cape Town IN fe5
days, the fastest regular schedule
ever established between these
ports.
Spacious public rooms. atr-condt-
toned dining room. a bath with
each cabin, tiled swimming pool and
other ultra-modern features VIII
make these ships the most up-todate
combination passenger and cargo
liners IN the American Merchant
Marine.
The African Planet VIII have
displacement Of 1850 tons and x4I
have 3 speed Of - knots per hour.
The vessel is double the value. in
cost Of any q the ether ships be-
ing launched on Liberty Fleet
Day.
The sponsor and her party. which
vii include 8 large number Of dls-
ungukhed government Officials VII
make their headquarters at the
Edsezater CUT Hotel during Their
Say On the Coast They are sche1-
uied 70 arrive al the LAUNCHING
stand e H.3o O'Clock.
After the launching ceremonies
The party VII return 70 he Edze-
N4ter Gull Hotel where the Amer
can-oouh African Lines VII CON-
pIment The official party win :
buffet dinner.
Al 5 ocl1ex President Roosevelt
III deliver 8 special Liberty Pee.
Day address
RAilroad freight traffic u 80
.-rluu E.n.n.- = -. -