Evening star., 1950-10-08
The Travellers Notebook
By Jacques FutreIIe, Jr.


Lines s. s. Constitution in mid.
September. a party of Washing
ton people learned that the Gen.
tral character in the drama hao
escaped the defense emergency
draft. Both the Constitution and
its sister ship. the Independence
launched in June as the largest
and fastest American ship pro.
duced since 1898, would be COM
pleted as luxury liners, to carry
business and recreational travel.
ers into the Mediterranean area
The handsome interiors and rich
trappings now are being fabricated
and installed.
Maritime Commission execu-
tives were aboard the train er
route to the Constitution cere.
mony at Quincy, Mass, and fllle6
In guests on news of the Commis.
sion's decision Of the day before
So when the sleek, gray and rec
hull glided down the ways Sep.
tember 16, spectators knew two
versions Of the lines American
living at sea" would be available
for their pleasure travels.
When the company last sprins
announced some of the conven.
fences, beauty and comforts beine
built into the two ships, it added
omniously. that each could carr,
5000 troops in wartime. The de.
cision Sidetracked that unwelcome
role. Designed for luxury travel
the ships will provide pleasant
air-conditioned quarters for 1000
guests.
But the Maritime Commission's
September decision carried disap-
pointing news in another direc-
ton. The three new American
President Lines round-the-world
liners were designated to serve as
troop transports. So tomorrow
when the 19.600-ton President
Adams is launched at Camden
N. j., the christening party will
witness q naval reservist report
ing for duty"
Newer Ships Planned The
original idea was to operate the
three new APL liners-the Presi-
dents jackson. Adams and Hayes
ON 100-day passenger and
freight voyages to 80 ports in II
countries around the world. That
item Of travel news previously
was reported here. Instead, as
transports. the interiors of each
have been redesigned to carry
1850 men and their equipment.
The President Jackson, launched
June 27. is now being completed
for such emergency duty. The
President Hayes, last of the trio
Is scheduled for the same role
when it first touches the water in
early December and is moved to
the fitting dock.
At tomorrow's launching in the
yards Of the New York Shipbuild-
ing Corp, the President Adams
will be sponsored by Mrs. Edward
j. Hart, wife Of Representative
Hart Of New Jersey.
Among the speakers will be
George Killion. head of American
President Lines. Already he has
announced his company is plan
ming replacement of his three
"reservists" going on sea duty
More Winter Cruises In an
nouncing 1950-51 winter cruises,
which have been reported to
Notebook readers from time to
time. operators privately have
admitted some concern. In the
background was the implied
threat of cancellations. But that
has changed now. Confidence re-
turned with the capture of Seoul
That victory for the United
Nations forces in Korea appar-
emily touched of vacation
spending movement that has been
directed largely to ocean voyaging
Meanwhile, wider choice of
ships and objectives has been
offered. Since the latest Note
book enumeration on September
II, the French Line has entered
the transatlantic luxury liner
De Grasse into the short-cruise
service, starting in December
Other recent announcements in
clude one of the Canadian Pacific s
White Empress" 1eet, the Fur
ness West Indies Lines Fort
Townshend and Fort Amherst
and Grace Lines fall and winter
schedule.
Christmas Cruises Included
The De Grasses first of four short
cruises into the Caribbean area j.
a Christmas holiday voyage of II
days to Nassau, Havana and Mi.
ami. This sophisticated and con.
tinental liner. with its French
cuisine as an added talking point
will sail from New York on De.
cember %. Christmas will be
spent at sea. approaching Nassau
Other De Grasse sailings are
scheduled January 81, February
10 and February "a. OF 13 day.
each, they offer the same itin.
erary: New York to San Juan
La Guaira, Curacao, Kingston anc
New York. Shore excursions ART